Plans unveiled for St Athan museum

A HERITAGE museum has been earmarked for 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.

An MoD St Athan chief technician Andy Brooks 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 flown and 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 future 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.

The base 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.

It also comprised a station headquarters, equipment and accounting sections, an educational sections and a training flight of Magister aircrafts.