​                                                                  The Annual Open Day at Stoke Golding Posts – 2016

    As is usual in June of each year Terry Bottrill invites members to attend the special ROCA Open Day at his Stoke Golding Posts.  Terry, his wife, daughter and friend treat us to an excellent lunch which includes Pimms, there is ample seating in the marquees in case of inclement weather, this year we were treated royally once again.
    The ROC Open Day this year was on Saturday, 4th June with the Posts being open to the public on the Sunday.   I use the word ‘Posts’ because on the site, as well as the amazingly equipped underground Post, there is also the replica brick built wartime Post which Terry has added at his own expense.   The only concession to the original Post is the indoor stairway because Health & Safety deemed the original metal ladder did not meet today’s safety standards.   Added to these two Posts is another marquee with equipment, certificates and photographs of members of the Corps.
    The weather was kind, the many Association members who gathered enjoyed meeting together, the associated photographs show members of Coventry Group in the top of the wartime Post, as well as other members happily chatting together.    We were delighted to see Beryl Murphy, Terry and Andrew with his partner.  The boys said it was a blast from the past, remembering the days when they visited the Posts around the country with their dad, John.  The photo shows the family with Andrew emerging from the Post.
    For those not already aware, the background to the setting up of these Posts is amazing:  Terry purchased a house with land in Stoke Golding, clearing the brambles on the edge of a field he came across a very strange structure.  Enquiries to the locals revealed it was a redundant underground Post, he cleared the whole area and later found the base of the wartime Post, his interest was aroused, he did much research and the rest is history! 
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    The Heritage Team thank Terry for continuing to promote the history of the Corps, both wartime and cold war, and look forward to many more ‘ROCA Open Days’.

                                                                                                                    Edwina Holden
                                                                                                            National Heritage Officer.