Unit History: Comcen

COMCEN CENTRAL, RAF STANBRIDGE in 1961

Written by GODFREY READING

I WELL REMEMBER PASSING OUT AS A TELEG II AND ARRIVING AT COMCEN CENTRAL AND MY FIRST ATTENDANCE IN THAT MASSIVE ARRANGEMENT SEEING ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND ALL THE PERSONNEL. I WAS NOT THERE ALL THAT LONG (BEING POSTED TO ADEN THEN BAHRAIN) BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET 1961. I BET THERE ARE A FEW MORE WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I PAID A FURTHER VISIT IN 1977 (PURELY AS A GUEST) - SO SAD TO SEE MOST OF IT GONE

HongKong WRAC Signals Comcen in 1970

Written by Ellen Jeffery

Its 40 years since I boarded a VC10 and flew to HongKong. We lived in Colvin House, Victoria Bcks, and compared to my other postings, life was good. Wedged between the posh Central and the not so posh Wanchi(we soon got used to the smell and cats with tails missing). We soon found our way to The Happening disco/China Fleet club/Hilton coffee shop. The shopping alleys were a sight ,imagine a whole street selling handbags. Shoes were a problem as I had big feet and they only catered for tiny Chinese ones.
Trips to the quieter Lantau Island or Macau were a treat. The Comcen was rebuilt around us while we worked - all that dust. Anyone out there remember that. The tech lads were great though, they kept everyhing on line most of the time. I feel lucky to have had the chance of such an exotic posting in reasonably peaceful times. Our troops today are not so lucky.