260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Association Blandford 2006 Page

The Model of the SR B70 finds a home in the Royal School of Signals

The Royal School of Signals is now home to a solid brass model of an SR B70.

Three years after the model was first made it has at long last been successfully installed in a room set aside to promote the Royal Signals Association.

Every serving soldier attending 11 Signal Regiment and the Royal School of Signals will have an opportunity to see the model on display and read about the history of the radio set and the role 260 Signal Squadron played in the development of data communications and the Radio Relay System.

Royal School of Signals

All regular signallers are to be welcomed to RSA membership within the first few weeks of their training at Blandford. During induction, the presentation of membership cards and lapel badges are given out at the same time as soldiers are invited to participate in the one days pay scheme.

The Regimental Colonel is to ensure that students on the JNCO and SNCO Courses are briefed on the objects of the RSA and the part that WOs and SNCOs can play in support of RSA activities.

Similarly, Officers attending Troop Commanders courses are to briefed on the objects of the RSA and visits to the Royal Signals Association Room will no doubt form part of the induction process.

Frank Woodall in his workshop at Leominster with the models of the SR B70 and Thunderbird II Missile

The B70 Radio Saga

by Frank Woodall

Ex REME 36 Heavy Air Defence Workshop REME.

In April 2002 I was enjoying the company of 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) at their annual reunion in Loughborough trading friendly insults with the Signals persons as you do when I was approached by Archie Cairns (A Scottish Person).

Having seen the Thunderbird II Surface to Air Missile ( Not Rocket) I had made for the Association ( Thats the SAM in 260 SAM) would I be interested in making a model of a B70 Radio?

Well not knowing anything about B70 Radios's I sort of dithered. But Archie being made of sterner stuff directed my attention to a green gubbins on a tripod standing in the corner. "THIS" he declared is a B70 Radio!

Well confronted by all of this how could I refuse. On returning home 'Signals' (Well telephone calls) flowed between Archie and myself.

Archie sent me photographs and drawings on the noble piece of Signals History, and informed me that the B70 on show at the reunion was in the care of Dave Humphries who with the owners permission was willing to loan it to me.

Well I got in touch with Dave and agreed to pick up this artifact on the way home from a visit to relatives over the Christmas period. Having this vintage radio in my possession made a huge difference. The only thing I did not have was a tripod but with reference to Archie's drawings I could work it out. Having decided on a scale of 1/4 size. I proceeded to make scale drawings of the parts. Then ordered the materials and finally got down to fabrication and machining, it was finished at the end of March 2003 after ten weeks. I delivered it to Archie at 2003 Reunion at Loughborough in April.

Frank Woodall Spinster of this Parish

Skilled Craftsman

What Frank has failed to mention in his story is the many hours of highly skilled work he put into building the model of the SR B70. The detail is just amazing and for those of you who attended the reunion in Loughborough in 2003 I am sure you will agree the model is something to be marveled over. But I have to say Frank's skill at model making would have been even more challenging had I not received the kind permission of Sean Williams (M1ECY) Secretary VMARS who so graciously granted us permission to borrow his B70 Radio in order to carryout detailed measurements and provide Frank with an original template.
I was so impressed by the workmanship Frank had put into building this first model I asked him to build me a second B70 which I had intended to donate to the Royal Signals Museum in Blandford as a measure of my grateful thanks to Peter Cuckow the staff at the Corps Museum and Tim Stankus the Corps Archivist who has been exceptionally helpful in tracing the history of our Squadron. As I have come to discover 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) was a unique unit in many ways and it is important that a record of the unit and its role is maintained as part of the Corps History.

In April of 2004 I wrote to Major General Tony Boyle CB the Chairman of the Royal Signals Association explaining that I wished to make a personal presentation to the Corps Museum in the form of a small statuette of a B70 which I had, had specially made and would be honoured if he would receive this gift on behalf of the Corps during the 2004 RSA Reunion weekend.

Unfortunately the Corps Museum doesn't have the room to house the model infact there are many hundreds of artifacts held in storage and that is where the model would have been placed. However the General had a plan but he needed to approach senior members of the Serving Corps to seek approval and so the presentation was put on hold till the following year.

Reunion with Steve Allsop

In the meantime I had made plans to collect the B70 from Frank and travelled down to his home in Leominster to collect the model. Just around that same time I had been trying to trace Steve Allsop and asked Bob McSeveney to follow up a lead which suggested Steve was living in the Warrington area. As it turned out my hunch was correct and with Bob's help I re-established telephone contact with Steve.

On my journey home from collecting the NEW model from Frank I arranged to meet up with Steve in a pub in Warrington and as you can see he is pictured holding the B70.

Steve and I were mates back in Dortmund and it was simply great to meet up with him again after so many years. I recently received a call from Steve and he hopes to attend a reunion sometime in the future in the meantime he sends his very best wishes to everyone who knows him. If you would like to contact Steve CLICK HERE

Steve Allsop holding the model of the SR B70

Major General Boyle welcomes members of the RSA to the new room in the Royal School of Signals

Royal Signals Association Room
Royal School of Signals

On the 2 July 2006 the Chairman of the Royal Signals Association Major General Boyle CB opened a special room in the Royal School Of Signals which has been set aside to introduce serving soldiers of the Corps to the aims and objectives of the Royal Signals Association.

This has been the ambition of the Chairman for some time and I was delighted to see him achieve his goal on the eve of his retirement having served five years as Chairman.

In 2002 the RSA began a process of examining how its affairs might best be reviewed to meet the needs of the 21st century. A seminar entitled 'The Way Ahead' was held in London at which ideas were floated and examined.

This led to a paper circulated to all branches for comment. Twenty recommendations were approved by successive AGMs and action to implement those recommendations has been under way since then.

The Way Ahead Seminar

I first met the Chairman at that Seminar in London and he did much to inspire me in my quest to develope this website and my active involment as a Life Member of the Royal Signals Association.

Major General Boyle suggested as the Museum was unable to display the B70 in a proper setting perhaps it might form part of the display of RSA Branch Histories in a room in the Royal School of Signals.

I was delighted by the Chairman's suggestion and returned to Blandford the following year clutching the shiny B70 under my arm only to be told matters concerning the RSA Room were not yet finalised due to the proposed restructing of the Royal School of Signals.

The Chairman explains the funtion of the new room

Finally in March 2006 I received an email from Peter Cuckow requesting that the model be in RHQ by June 1st. This presented me with a bit of a problem. The B70 was with Frank Woodall in Leominster being cleaned and a new inscription added. The framed history was with me and due to personal circumstances I was unable to attend any reunions this year.

After a few frantic phone calls to Chris Conroy, Frank Woodall and Pete Thomas I made arrangements with Pete Thomas to collect the B70 and the framed history at the Squadron Reunion in April and deliver them to Peter Cuckow at RHQ.

Peter delivers the Speech

As I was unable to attend this years Corps Reunion I asked Pete Thomas if he would be kind enough to make the presentation and deliver a short speech on my behalf and this he agreed to do.

You can read the speech if you CLICK HERE

I would really like to complete my research into the history of the Squadron and deliver it to the new Chairman in time for next years reunion but I will need your help to achieve this.

It would be great if everyone could send me a short write up of their time in the Squadron.

We all have failing memories but there are many things you will remember and if you were to take the time to write it down and send it to me I would soon have enough material to complete my research.

260 Signal Squadron (SAM) On Parade

I am most grateful to Peter Cuckow who sent me these photographs as it enables me to get a sense of the ceremony I missed and to share them with you.

I do hope these photographs inspire you to re-establish your links with the Corps Family and make at least one trip to Blandford Camp to experience the Corps Reunion.

Members of 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) attending the presentation in the new Royal Signals Association Room at the Royal School of Signals line up beside the model of the SR B70 and its framed potted history for an official photo by the Corps Photographer.

Pictured L/R Pete Thomas, Steve Barron, Frank Woodall (REME), Geoff Scott, Brian Shipton and Alex Forbes.

Group Photo at the Presentation

Stand Easy

My grateful thanks to Pete Thomas for presenting the model and delivering the speech in my absence.

I'd like to add my thanks to our Secretary Geoff Scott and all the lads who were able to attend the ceremony and represent 260 Signal Squadron (SAM) Association.

Nice to see our newest member Alex Forbes On Parade.

Numbers were down at this years Corps reunion due to the change in dates and the World Cup. What was that score again?

The pictures do not show the ladies from association attending the ceremony but I am sure they were somewhere in the background watching the proceedings and taking photos.

A Potted History of the SR B70

In my efforts to research the history of 260 Signal Squadron I characteristically wandered off as I often do and started researching the history of the SR B70.

I thought if I could establish when the radio was first brought into service with the Corps then perhaps it might give me a clue as to when our Squadron was first formed.

As it happens my research took me off in quite a different direction and whilst my search didn't uncover the vital bits of information I was looking for I did uncover some quite interesting facts about the radio and the role of our Squadron in the development of the Radio Relay System.

You can read the history of the B70 if you CLICK HERE

Frank Woodall

I am most grateful to Frank Woodall for taking on the task of building the B70. I know how challenging it was for him since he did not have a proper set of plans to work from. I am delighted he was able to attend the presentation.

He has become a firm fixture at all our Squadron Reunions and I was pleased when he was made an Associate Member of our Association some years ago.

Since then Frank has become a regular attendee at the Corps Reunion and has even been known to participate in the Regimental March Past.

Naturally being a member of the REME he is always sent to the rear of the parade to act as the Recovery Vehicle.

I would also like to include my special thanks to the mystery carpenter at Blandford for making the lovely display cabinet to house the B70 model.

Letter from the Chairman

Shortly after the reunion weekend I received a very nice letter from Major General Boyle thanking me for the model of the B70.

It came as quite a surprise to me to learn that he was standing down as Chairman of the Royal Signals Association at this years Corps Reunion. It hardly seems five years since he took office.

He has done much to improve the Royal Signals Association to meet the challenging needs of the 21st Century during his time in office and I know that his guiding leadership will be sorely missed by ALL in the RSA and in the Serving Corps.

You can read his letter to me if you CLICK HERE