Exhibits plea as museum set for MoD unit
A HERITAGE museum has been planned at one of Wales’ largest Ministry of Defence (MoD) units at St Athan.
Plans have been unveiled by the MoD St Athan Heritage Centre project to open the museum at the base and they are looking for any exhibits owned by local people.
MoD St Athan chief technician is heading the project, as well as being the workshop’s training co-ordinator. He said: “We have an extensive photographic archive which has helped immensely with the project.
“However, we cannot create a museum from photos alone, and to truly bring it to life we hope to display models, mannequins, uniforms, flying clothing and relevant aircraft parts of the types maintained at the base throughout the years.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have items they wish to donate to contact us. Our aim is to honour Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel past and present and inspire the generations to come.
“It is hoped that once the heritage centre is complete we can open it to visits from local schools, cadets and special interest groups so that they too can see what MoD St Athan has achieved over its 80-year history.”
It is hoped the new heritage centre will play a part in marking the 89th anniversary celebrations of MoD St Athan this year.
MOD St Athan was officially opened in 1938 and contributed to the growth of the economy and population in St Athan, as well as its dormitory village of Eglwys Brewis.
The Number Four School of Technical Training was formed at the base in order to train flight mechanics, flight riggers and drivers, which remains at the station to this day.