GREENHAM COMMON

Photo essay

26 Apr

BY PAUL HORNSBY

I recently bought a used mirrorless camera in order to have it converted to an Infra Red device. The colour array is stripped out, meaning that the camera is only sensitive to the 'invisible' part of the spectrum, that being infrared) Naturally, I was keen to find a project that was suitable for this treatment. It wasn't long before the thought occurred to me to make a documentary series on Greenham Common. I realise that many of your audience will know about Greenham Common and the 'Peace Movement' but, for those unaware, here are a few bits of information.

RAF Greenham Common was leased to the American Airforce during the height of the Cold War.

Between 1982 and 1991, 96 Nuclear Headed ground launched cruise missles (GLCM) were stored at the facility. Each War head was approximately 10 times the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan.

At the time the runway was the longest in Europe enabling C-5 Galaxy and C-141 Starlifters to land here. The warheads and missiles were stored in huge bomb proof silo's called GAMA's (GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area) The GLCM part stood for Ground launched Cruise Missiles). Naturally there was great opposition and a peaceful protest lasted over 10 years. Hundreds of women marched from Cardiff to Greenham with many chaining themselves to the fences. It was a women only protest. In 1992 the American forces left the base. The base was decommissioned with the runway being broken up and used for local road making and infra structure around Newbury in Berkshire.

Nowadays the site is used as an historical site run by very informed and interesting volunteers, based in the control tower. It's possible to walk nearly anywhere on the site with the exception of the Silo's which are still triple fenced.

Old and mysterious remnants are everywhere as nature try's to reclaim them. Vast open spaces are surrounded by beautiful and tranquil woodlands. There's even an unusual but beautiful water tower that was used to supply water to the nearby American Officers homes, known locally as 'The Wine Glass'. There's also many strange buildings and objects that still remain that serve to give the place a sense of mystery. My intent photographically was to try and capture the unusual nature of the place.