Weedons

[beagle]

cool photo.
The only this noticiable I see everyday passing by would be the big building upper right hand side and the gum trees.
Might have to try a few side roads to see if I can get close enough for a few modern photos.

[Dave Homewood]

Great find there Glen. I wonder what date that photo is.

[Eng]

That pic must be very old in fact maybe just atfter the commencement of the war . The tent layout seems to be fairly well established . Of course tent cities can be built overnight "-)
I lived in the house at the top left of the pic for 3 years I guess it was one of the originals .Had a big garden of tomatoes thanks to the Wigram Firemaster allowing me to use the time expired foam liquid which I found out consisted of liquid blood and offal imported at great price from Germany .They grew so high I couldnt close the bedroom windows !! No kidding . If only I could make use of the same now Id be in vegetarian Heaven . sadly its all synthetic and no use . Bother :-(

[Dave Homewood]

Ha, very interesting. I have never heard of that before. Thanks for another enlightening story.

[davidd]

That photo must be taken at the same time as the one publshed in the book authored by Tony Phillips and titled "Gateway to the Ice" (page 19, top), which was taken in September 1956. The big clue is the presence of the United States Air Force's tented "camp city" and specially erected for them by the RNZAF! I think the only large building now remaining at Weedons is No. 4 Store, which was built in about 1950 (largely for the NZ Army I believe, would anyone care to comment on this aspect?) Contrary to other comments, this is the one with the very light (reflecting!) roof in the very centre of the above photograph. This store was built with a complete concrete floor suitable for large fork lifts and far heavier items than normally handled by RNZAF. My memory is that the three other stores on the right hand side of photo had largely wooden floors, and also possessed overhead electric cranes.
David D

[davidd]

Incidentally the Weedons photographs under discussion were taken by V C (Vic) Browne, apparently with the assistance of an RNZAF Harvard pilot, and the tax payer!
David D

[Eng]

If you will but cast your eyes back to the pic (April 29th) of Weedons you will notice in the top left hand corner
(11 O'clock to us in the trade ) a cleared patch .This was used to play various sports. A challenge was issued by some one
against some one elss of course to have a soccer match .
A field was marked out and play commenced . It is not important to state the teams nor the resulting score but it was as usual played in a combatative spirit ( to impress the watching wives and children .)
Standing on the side line was an airman who owned a lovely dog. The dog was mesmerised by all the action taking place on the field and straining at his leash in order to join the contestants.
Suddenly a twinkled toed soccer player made a scintillating dash up the side line to the cheers of the onlookers . No doubt about it he WAS good ! A sterling product of Englands finest .
Alas this was just too much for the captivated canine. He suddenly lunged forward and sank his teeth into the poor Pom's neither regions. It was pure Hollywood, although the injured party declined the offer of a closer examinatin of his injured member.
The dog owner was forced to shout the bar,and the aggrieved player duly recovered but had to bear the nick name " Crotchety" for long after.Fortunately his voice failed to climb to a higher pitch.
Another exciting week at Weedons ! :-)

[Dave Homewood]

I love your stories!

[Eng]

I guess you will have heard all about the nefarious doings which more often than not went on at Weedons and I trust I am not boring you with more . I did however have a nostalgic think back to those good old days ( and nights ) and decided to add to its archives .Once more the name of Flight Lieutenant Paul Brodie pops up . Our esteemed and well-loved Officer in charge of our motley lot.His next scheme was to hold a barbeque in honour of something or another. As it was fast approaching Winter he decided that it would be a great idea to construct a walled in area for the festivities . this was made from large slabs of pine bark timber about six foot high and placed on a concrete base. The foundation of a long demolished building.. As the weather forecast seemed bit dubious we were prevailed upon to erect a fairly sizable marquee over the whole “stockade” as we called it . In addition to the gas barbeque a considerable amount of fire wood was positioned in the centre. The temperature dropped and the fire was lit . Very enjoyable it was too. As the night progressed so did the addition of fuel to the fire increased by enthusiastic (primed !) revellers. The flames continued to grow higher and with sparks flying every where it was a stunning sight to behold. Tragedy then struck without warning! The Marquee had by this time been straining at tis leashes similar no doubt to the R101 in its heyday ..All this was too much for our badly designed and somewhat insignificant holding down ropes which parted . The Montgolfier brothers hearts would have quickened as the all canvas machine shot into the air about 15 feet , discharged its heated contents into space then dived down and collapsed on the outside of the stockade fully deflated as were the startled onlookers.Sadly this was its last flight as the repair bill was too expensive to retry .We adjourned to the safety of the bar. Our admiration of Richard Pearse having grown considerably.

[baz62]

Ha ha love that one eng!

[snaphead]

On a sadder note, have noted whilst driving past Weedons recently that the pool and the accompaning building have been DEMOLISHED!!

[Eng]

Oh well > I guess the filter was past its useby date any way :-(

With the timber which we acquired from the demolished railway Weedons whistle stop we refurbished the Old Fire
Station and converted it into a swept up Play Centre which proved to be highly popular .
Funds were low but we wanted to put a telephone in and couldnt afford the expense .Cunning comms resident placed an ancient phone in the building then rang up P and T faults and stated our phone was on the blink . The next afternoon we were gifted a new phone which
we were informed hadnt been connected properly ! All the mums were happy as hell. :-)

[rod66]

lived at weedons base as a kid,round 74 or so.big place to explore as a little fella,went back there in 2001 and the front of the place was completely gone.just paddocks.A real shame we've lost our air force to this degree.

[rod66]

Am not a leading aircraftman by th way.That description just turned up.

[lumpy]

Sept 15, 2013 21:16:40 GMT 12 rod66 said:

Am not a leading aircraftman by th way.That description just turned up.

Dont worry Rod66 , the forum just assigns you rank based on how many posts you have made ( i think thats how it works ) , you might have a few promotions to come .

[Eng]

>Am not a leading aircraftman by the way.That description just turned up.<

Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that Rod66. I was in the ranks meself once! :-)

When climbing up the ladder of success if you scorn the bottom rungs you'll never reach the top.

I have an idea Dave carefully counts the number of words before awarding you with a payrise .
Just keep the ink flowing and you may even make corporal!!
Good luck :-)

[Dave Homewood]

"I have an idea Dave carefully counts the number of words before awarding you with a payrise."

Haha, I love your imaginative thinking, but no it's all done automatically by the forum program.

[trimotor]

Greetings all,

Just stumbled on this site yesterday. Talking about Weedons, I only went there once I think, in 15 years, though references to it rot popping up:

1. In early 92, while on Flying Instructors Course at Wigram, the annual Wigram a Wings and Wheels was on. Keith Skilling (as I recall) was flying the then new to NZ AFC Corsair. There was a rumour on the base that the aircraft had some gear issues on the Friday or Sat practice, So I strolled down to the Museum hangar to see. There was the Corsair, in level flight attitude, jacked just clear of the ground. It seems the Cotsair gear is compressed as it retracts by a short steel cable, so the gear will fit in the available hole. Seems the cable was badly frayed, the concern being that if the cable broke with the gear retracted the pilot would have to depfalte the tyre by shooting through the wing with his 45, though landing a Corsair on a flat tyre wasn't a great idea either. Air NZ at Harewood was coerced into making and strength testing a replacement, though there were concerns it might not be done in time. A team was sent to Weedons to see what was lying on shelves: they found a pile of brand new cables, still with Chance Vought tags on. Tough decision-use the genuine, original 50 year old part, if the new, tested, nice but not original-looking item...new won the day.

2. Fast forward to late 90's and 727 operations: we needed a replacement control column for 7271-the bearings were shot in one fitted. A new one from Boeing was going to be US$70k....thinks...shouldn't we have a spare from 7273? Weedons was searched. Can't remember if the control column was found, though the supposedly spare radome was apparently identified in a playground, with a kid-sized hole cut in it! Luckily, it was never needed!

TM

[baz62]

Welcome to the forum TM. Yes it was amazing what was at Weedons. When the Avenger(Air Force Museum) had it's engine issue a trip to Weedons produced NOS pushrods for the Wright Cyclone R2600!

[davec]

Apr 22, 2010 10:39:53 GMT 12 beagle said:

Has anyone got any photos of what weedons was like in the days when the base was at it's height.
Are there any modern day images of what is inside now.
I know where it is and drive passed each day, just would like to open the door and take a nice look around inside.

hi Dave,

I was interested in Weedons as my father was a Ft lieutenant Alan Chapman (Chappie) and we lived there in a new airforce house 1950. I think we were there for about 2 years, and I was 6 years old and an airforce van would take all us kids into Christchurch each day to school and bring us home . I can give you some history as I remembered.

The commanding officer was Colin Manson who live on site in an older farm style house with a pond surounded by trees. looks like some of the trees are still there where the house was .His son Donald had a dingy and would row us around the pond ,and also there was a rope for the kids to swing on to splash into the water. its all gone now. I met up with Colin in the mid 70's he was retired and living in Diamond harbour .The old stone and concrete gate posts are still at the Jones rd entrance . At the gate on the right was an old canon with the barrell point towards the road and on the left was a guard house with a lock up (jail) futher down the road was a building that was a WMCA for recreational activities. sometimes on a saturday night they would put on a movie that families would attend.also plays and talent type shows by the airmen and women. and also a row of army huts for accomodation beside or behind the wmca, and there was a large kitchen,dining room and also onsite was an officers mess that had another kitchen and dining facility. on the right of the main drive in were stores buildings , there was also fire brigade tennis court and a swimming pool , that I think maybe was resovoir for water, but we used to swim in it and it was COLD! there were engineers workshop and many other facilities. it was a real community. The large existing wooden building was one of two the other has gone. in the 70's the post office leased it ,or part of it for storage. There was a railway line which branched off the main railway line that went over Jones rd into the site and terminated along side the big old store that’s not there now and had a smaller engine to move the wagons around on site. Alston rd which is off Jones rd at the southern end was named after Horace Alston (Horrie) he lived along there on the left in the small cottage that is still there, Directly opposite were the main gates into the housing area. Horrie was a radio tech and had a small shop on Worcester s by the Avon theatre " Silver Radio" . the old concrete gate posts are still there.We lived in the first house on the right. All houses have gone now and the fields plowed and no sign of anything at all only fond memories of the district with old houses lanterns and long drops. all airforce homes had flush loos. all the homes were the traditional square weather board state houses. I see that there is a photo of the Fire dept guys that has been submitted. The man on the left was Ted England who was the fire chief and I had a scary encounter with him . I was 6 years old and was playing with a box of matches and managed to set a pine tree on fire at the Alston rd entrance to the housing. Some people came running from their homes with extinguishers and soon after I saw Ted coming at a great rate of knots in the fire engine and I managed to successfully hide for the rest of the afternoon. I see Ted's daughter wendy has also posted a pic's of kids at a fancy dress party and the fire dept  on another site they are now on this forum. If anyone has any photos I would be keen to see them. As we were way out in the country,weekly there was a mobile green grocer in an old bus who would park in the housing area for people to shop,also weekly was a mobile butcher from Rolleston Mr Willetts who would come in his ford V8 panel van laden with meat and the house wives would stand in line with their plates waiting to buy meat. Unbelievably 22 years later I married his grand daughter.true story. I hope this will give you and anyone else a small picture of what it was like then in 1950. cheers Dave Chapman. [e-mail]