A newsletter from the Fawley site July 2014 Issue 40

www.exxonmobil.co.uk

You can now also see Community Matters online at: www.fawleyonline.org.uk

COMMUNITY

Above: Crofton - Hants 28 Battalion HG at HQ with Lieutenant Colonel Sir MATTERS Morgan Crofton (front row centre) Inset: Dan Snow at the World War II exhibit The New Forest’s role in World War II

With the help of funding from bomb testing areas, an influx of ExxonMobil at Fawley and the evacuees, the ‘Dig for Victory’ effort, Heritage Lottery Fund, The New the ‘Dad’s Army’ Home Guard and Forest National Park Authority has massive preparations for the D-Day spent two years unearthing and invasion. recording some incredible untold Some of ‘The New Forest Remembers’ stories of World War II. These stories which have now been told changed history – and the Forest. include a secret wartime visit to the Archaeologists and volunteers collected New Forest by King George VI; details the memories of over 130 military of life in a New Forest prisoner of war personnel, residents and prisoners of camp near ; top secret war; found photos, secret documents orders, letters and hand-drawn maps and maps; and surveyed World War II that reveal rare insights into the real archaeological sites from the air, using ‘Dad’s Army’; and the discovery of laser technology. Some 100 volunteers scars from an earthquake bomb known recorded over 80 hours of oral histories as ‘Grand Slam’. WELCOME TO OUR JULY 2014 and took part in archaeological field EDITION OF COMMUNITY MATTERS. A digital online archive, the Interactive surveys and archive research. Portal, has now been created to make If you would like to know more about us or have any queries, please ring 023 8089 2511 The New Forest provides a unique all of this information available to the and ask for Community Affairs snapshot of what World War II was public, including personal recollections like in Britain – including 12 war-time and animated 3D reconstructions. To Photography by Ian Jackson, ExxonMobil Employees airbases, US military encampments, explore the portal, & New Forest National Park Produced by Christina Riddell spy schools, prisoner of war camps, visit (www.newforestww2.org). Designed by Council Printed by Cedar Colour LTD Crofton - Scrap BookNew V2Forest 1941-42 Map

Lancaster bomber and bombs

Tower 3-1

Setley POW Camp 65 -

Mueller Family Control tower

Grand Slam bomb crater and Crofton family with WW II Home Guard scrapbook 'Sub Pen', top left, at Ashley Walk Skates for heavy weights

During a recent maintenance take it to the wash bay and onwards event at the refinery, a heat for planned mechanical works.” exchanger had to be pulled Air power and sent offsite for retubing and new baffle plates. The Instead, Colin researched, tested and cylindrical bundle was some six safely introduced another approach metres long with a diameter of – four air skates, controlled by a 1.4 metres, and weighed 13.5 manual console. Individual air lines tonnes. However, its location were attached to each skate to allow had to be flat, level and non-porous. posed a logistical problem. One all four to be operated in unison. They However, the ground was very solution was for a specialist load could also be individually controlled, uneven. A bed of sand was therefore moving company to take it to a to keep the load level. The skates laid down and covered with sheets more accessible place. provide a maximum lift height of of ¾” marine ply and a layer of heavy 35mm, which includes a thin, nearly ExxonMobil Field Engineer, Colin duty plastic to provide a smooth frictionless film of air, 0.08 to 0.13mm Marshall, says: “This would have surface. The area by the Ross Carrier thick. This allows the load to move in involved designing and building a was also steel-plated to reduce the any direction. The bundle was moved scaffold over process pipework. A loading on drain covers. for 15 metres to allow the Ross 100-tonne crane Carrier to pick it up. Whilst on the Once the load had been moved and would have been air skates rig, it was turned through secured, it was floated by air to a needed to lift position where it could be lifted with 90 degrees and guided between the bundle the Ross Carrier. Colin concludes: some steel columns. It was then from the “This method removed the safety manoeuvred diagonally to the landing scaffold, hazard of moving the load over live area set up for the Ross Carrier. then a Ross pipes and delivered crane Carrier would For the air skates to work, the surface cost savings.” Waterside Heritage Centre Are you interested in local Waterside Heritage also provides in September; and a slide projection history? If so, your help would be exhibitions throughout the Waterside, display in Church. It’s also valued by Waterside Heritage! The visits local schools and helps to working on a new display at charity was formed in September publish books and papers about the Castle and is helping the Local 1995, with the aim of establishing Waterside, most recently through History Group with an exhibition on an exhibition and study centre Waterside Heritage Publications. the First World War RNAS Station at and furthering peoples’ interest A series of four books is being Calshot. in the history of the parishes of produced, covering the history of the Help needed! Fawley, Hythe and Dibden, and Waterside parishes. ‘Fawley and the . Southern Waterside’ has already been If you’d like to become a member published and ‘Hythe, A Waterside of Waterside Heritage, the annual The Waterside Heritage Centre was Village’, is due to be published later subscription includes a local history subsequently opened in June 2002, this year. Volumes on Dibden and newsletter four times a year. Help in the former Railway Station in Hythe. and on Marchwood is always needed with manning It’s open to the public on Tuesday, and Eling are currently in progress. the Centre and with tasks ranging Thursday and Saturday mornings and from sorting, archiving and indexing at other times for research by groups Waterside Heritage is helping various through to research and exhibitions. and individuals. The Centre is funded local groups to commemorate the To volunteer, please visit the Centre by members’ subscriptions, donations, anniversary of the commencement of or contact the Chairman, Graham grant aid from the three parish the First World War, with exhibitions Parkes, at Hythe Community councils and sponsorship from local at the United Reformed Church in Centre on 023 8084 4074 or businesses, including ExxonMobil. Hythe during June; Fawley Church [email protected]. New Forest Academy Karen Godsall, the newly appointed Academies and Enterprise Trust for Principal at New Forest Academy is modernising the building and its facilities. delighted to be working with Exxonmobil ‘We are looking forward to the changes to ensure that students and teachers gain ahead as they will make a real difference access to important Science, Technology, to the learning environment that we can Engineering and Maths related projects. provide for our students.’ She met with Alison Jones, the New Forest Academy is just one of the Community Affairs Manager from the ExxonMobil Fawley site’s link schools; Exxonmobil, Fawley Complex to talk about Noadswood, Applemore, Hamble the interesting and diverse opportunities Community College, Houndsdown, on offer. Wildground Juniors, Fawley Infants, ‘The academy is now being led by a whole Blackfield Primary, Cadland Primary and new team of senior leaders and we are Manor Infants are also in the ExxonMobil focussed on ensuring that good quality Link School Programme. teaching and learning is at the heart of Fawley employees can train as STEM everything that we do. We want to work Ambassadors to assist the schools with Exxonmobil so that our students with STEM-related activities. STEM enjoy the many exciting opportunities Ambassadors are trained through available to them. We are keen for them the government-backed STEMNET to take an active part in local collaborative programme (www.stemnet.org.uk). projects with Exxonmobil.’ The Fawley site wishes New Forest The academy has also recently received Academy, and their students, significant funding from its sponsor every success!