The friendly Wolds village with bold plans for its future
IT’S A COMMUNITY THAT HAD TO FIGHT FOR ITS SURVIVAL
THE historic village of Binbrook, in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds, has bold plans for the future to bring its community even closer together.
The departure of the RAF more than 30 years ago threatened to decimate the oncethriving village.
Hundreds of people worked at the base home to RAF Squadrons 11 and 5.
Closing down in 1988 it gradually turned Binbrook into a ghostly shadow of its former glory. The site of the popular Marquis of Granby pub was turned into homes.
Without the dedication of a number of local residents, the village - which has a population of around 900 people - was at risk of becoming a satellite of Grimsby.
It took many years for the former airbase to come back to life.
Around 300 homes, all of which were solidly-built, Ministry of Defence homes, went on the market, some for around £10,000.
Brookenby was born and a host of former Grimsby families made the picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds their home.
That enabled services in Binbrook to continue and the village church, St Mary’s and St Gabriel to provide support to a growing community. The village post office has also thrived.
Village post-mistress Rachael Atkinson, is the latest generation to serve her community.
Her grandfather Job Fletcher began the post office in Binbrook 100 years ago.
Her great-aunt Clarence Fletcher took it over and the family connection has been passed down through generations.
She said: “When the camp closed, it went from being extremely busy to being desperately quiet and losing a lot of heart. That was until people went to live there again. Trade has picked up in the village again.”
It is popular with visitors who can enjoy a host of services from the post office and village store.
There is also a minibus which can take villagers to their destination by booking a ride into Grimsby, Louth or Market Rasen.
The Wolds Community Bus is 90p per mile to hire with fuel provided and can hold up to 15 people plus the driver and is wheelchair accessible.
It can take villagers on shopping trips, although the post office store has most fresh foods and everything from cards to cans and bottles of wine.
Just from a walk through the village, you soon appreciate how much care is given to the village by the decorated bus stop and the monuments to its glorious past and Armed Forces heritage.
There are several well maintained benches throughout the village for walkers to sit and enjoy the views.
The village school is also at the heart of the village and well-supported by families from the local community.
Relative newcomer to Binbrook, Keith Sheppard told Grimsby Live: “It is one of the friendliest villages in which we have ever lived. With work we have moved around a lot, but Binbrook is definitely the most pleasant. Everyone talks to you.”
He said the post office and store staff had been “a Godsend” during the pandemic by fetching food supplies from Grimsby and delivering them to people’s homes.
Anne Sheppard said: “When we take the dog out for a walk we call it the ‘walk and talk’ because everyone stops to have a chat.”
The number of cyclists passing through is noticeable in Binbrook. It is not quite on the scale of a Tour of Lincolnshire race, but the village is popular with cyclists of all ages enjoying the quiet country lanes around the village and its new cafe, The B17.
Cyclists Eddie and Sally Bromley ride out to Binbrook from Grimsby regularly.
“It has good coffee and nice cake,” told Sally.
The couple enjoy the leafy lanes of the Wolds, some of which are quite steep, on their E-bikes which are “like a hand pushing you up the hill.”
Eddie said: “I have been cycling the 17 miles to get here ever since I was about 15 years old. You can even cycle the old runways. It is a lovely area to visit.”
The village’s Plough Inn is also taking off with new owners, Dedicated Hospitality, which also runs The Green Man at Scamblesby and Louth’s popular Masons’ Arms Hotel.
Digital manager Thomas Caloe said food will soon be served at The Plough once new catering staff are appointed. Currently it is serving drinks from 4pm each day and 12 noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
The well-maintained hanging baskets are a sign the management are keen to attract visitors and local residents who can enjoy large screen sports on TV and an exquisite beer garden.
The inside have many photographs of the RAF’s heritage in Binbrook.
But the greatest monument to the best air force in the world is about to be unveiled at the former airbase.
A team of dedicated enthusiasts are restoring two Lightings. One of them XS459 was the pride of fighter pilot, Ian Black. He was the last to leave RAF Binbrook in a Lightning. Twenty five years earlier his father George Black was the first Lightning pilot at RAF Binbrook. He went on to be an Air Vice Marshall.
Nine Ni Lightnings Li h i took k off ff f from Bi Binbrook b kf for the last time in 1988. The sound from the jets’ engines “rearranged onlookers’ internal organs.”
The fighter jets, mostly used for interception of Russian planes for decades, were a familiar sight in the skies over Grimsby.
The unparalleled power rattled windows of many North East Lincolnshire homes and sent pets scurrying. The force gave jets almost vertical take off
The RAF’s quick reaction alert meant the Lightings played a key role in our nation’s defence throughout the Cold War.
Now RAF enthusiasts have a bold vision for a heritage centre and museum at RAF Binbrook. The transformation is remarkable and the attention to detail of the restoration work is hugely impressive. More details of the unveiling will be released soon.
But the former airbase is about to become a big attraction thanks to the volunteers. They will be guarding two of the remaining Lightings for future generations to marvel as well as keeping the spirit of the pilots and ground crews alive.