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Views of Menwith Hill Station (MHS), near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, U.K., August, 1978—July, 1981. Independence Day, July 4, Up the Yanks, Down the Brits. There were always more Brits on base helping us celebrate than there were Yanks. The Yanks all drank Bitters and Scotch, and the Brits drank Bud and Bourbon. No hard feelings. We all had a great time. One year the Red Arrows, the RAF Demonstration Team, flew over and put on a great show. You can see the Band from a British Army Unit resplendent in red jackets in this view.
MHS, Independence Day, Parade Float and Celebrants, August, 1978—July, 1981. The Chapel and Base Housing are in the background. Notice in the Previous View, Above, the Covered Walkway leading from the Club to other associated structures. Between Sunny Intervals there were generally Horizontal Rain and Gale-Force Winds. Keep your MHS Ugly Parka and Wellington Boots, better known as Welly’s, handy at all times.
MHS, Independence Day, Carnival Rides, August, 1978—July, 1981. Number One Son is in a red, white, and blue sweater in the foreground, looking very patriotic, and having a wonderful time. Believe me, God love Sister Jane, his Brit School Mistress, when he returned to the States, he had a full Yorkshire Accent, that took him at least two months to lose. His first remark as we flew into the States was, “Look at all those American Cars.”
MHS, Independence Day, Carnival Rides, August, 1978—July, 1981. Number Two Son is in a matching red, white, and blue sweater, having a great time, and looking very patriotic. I think we had the first Tandem Stroller in the UK. Brit Moms were extremely impressed. Most of them were still using Pre-Ambulators, somewhat similar to turn-of-the-century U.S. Baby Carriages. We hauled our guys all around the U.K. in our Honda Civic and our Tandem Stroller.
MHS, August, 1978—July, 1981. The view off the base, and over the Yorkshire Moors, during a very rare Sunny Interval. This view was there every day in some form. Every day it was different, but always awesome.
Pately Bridge, August, 1978—July, 1981, in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. Notice the Red and White Pub Sign. One day the Day Ladies got Snowed In at the Base. The Brit Police were turning cars around at the entrance to the Base and sending them to the Club until the Blizzard Lifted. When the snow stopped, it was dark, and the workers were feeling no pain. We formed a Convoy and headed out for Harrogate, by way of Pately Bridge, Ripon, and Knaresborough, the only available route. Thank Heaven for the Club, or we would never have made it.
Lambing Season, August, 1978—July, 1981, a common scene around Harrogate during the Spring. Notice the Suburbs of Harrogate in the background. This was a common view between Harrogate and the Base, and we never got tired of it. Our usual daily route went through the Stray. We never got tired of that either.
Yorkshire, August, 1978—July, 1981, a common view out around the Base. We never got tired of this either, except during the Blizzard.
Two Urchins, August, 1978—July, 1981, outside their residence at 49 Hookstone Chase , just a short walk from the Stray, the Pub, the Fish and Chips Shop, and beautiful downtown Harrogate. There was always something going on, and often my wife and the boys and I would stroll down to the Stray or Downtown on foot, during Sunny Intervals, or we would drive down or take a bus anytime we felt like it. We had a left-hand drive Honda Civic that I had to pick up in Ipswich and a right-hand drive Ford Cortina that we purchased from a local Brit, both with a Stick Shift.
Knaresborough, August, 1978—July, 1981. This is one of our favorite scenes, right on the Outskirts of Harrogate, a wonderful outing, complete with some great restaurants, and great picnicking, during Sunny Intervals, when the weather is decent.
Fountains Abbey , August, 1978—July, 1981. This is another one of our favorite scenes, not far from Harrogate. We would pack wine and cheese and snacks for the boys and head out for an all day outing, and we would try to remember to stay on the right side of the road, which, of course, in England is, Your Other Right. Oh, yes, don’t forget your Ugly Parka and your Welly’s.
Fountains Abbey , August, 1978—July, 1981. A certain lovely young lady lounging by the stream, perfectly content in short sleeves and a skirt. Proper Brit Ladies never, ever wore pants or shorts, and this was a Proper Brit Lady, for three years, and then she reverted.
Robin Hood’s Bay on the East Coast of North Yorkshire , August, 1978—July, 1981.
That Certain Young Lady and Two Little Guys at Robin Hood’s Bay, August, 1978—July, 1981. The Brits never tire of poking fun at the Yanks, and we of them, but we love them dearly, and we will never forget they are our Best and Truest Allies and Friends. And we will never forget the memorable experience of our brief stay in Harrogate along with our later visits.
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