Page Seven
The Caithness Glass Bowls

180. Early in 1982 the first results of the working party on monitoring posts were evident in the issue of ration packs sufficient for seven days of operations: the residue, to allow for twenty-one days in all, was issued during the next two years. Also, a trial installation of a ventilation fan was made in a post in No 2 Group, Horsham. New flooring was provided during 1983 and 1984 for all posts and lighting was improved by stronger strip lights.

181. In February 1982 it was announced that, in spite of the success of the aircraft reporting and plotting trials in 1976 and 1977, the Ministry of Defence had decided for various operational reasons not to proceed with the scheme.

182. Improvements in communications continued and the installation of new loud-speaker telephones and private wires at posts was completed in England and Wales by early 1983 and in Scotland and Northern Ireland by the end of that year. The installation of new carrier receiver equipment also commenced in April 1982, at carrier control points and warning points including controls and monitoring posts. Links from controls to armed forces headquarters were installed early in 1983.

183. The training patterns of the Corps had developed over the years and it was decided to standardise and regularise them. This resulted in the issue on 1 January 1983 of a training staff instruction which consolidated earlier documents. All officers and head observers of posts received personal copies.

184. On 20 February 1983, Air Commodore G P Black OBE AFC ADC FBIM succeeded Air Commodore Offord as Commandant of the Corps.

185. In 1981 the Scottish Home and Health Department at the request of the Director UKWMO had installed as a trial message switch equipment, initially at Dundee and subsequently at other groups. This equipment took the form of a micro-processor which routed messages automatically in conjunction with the existing teleprinter equipment originally installed in the late 1960s. The Home Office realised the need to plan replacement for the ageing teleprinter system and to introduce equipment using more up-to-date technology. They therefore decided to introduce message switch (MSX) equipment working with visual display units and modern teleprinters capable of operating at higher speeds.

186. The first was installed at Maidstone and by February 1984 a further five installations had been made. Other installations proceeded apace so that by March of the following year, MSX was in use at all groups except No 31 Group Belfast. At this time second private wire speech circuits were ordered for inter-group and inter-sector links. These improvements led to a notable enhancement of the operational efficiency and capability of the Corps in its role as field force for the UKWMO.

187. 1984 also saw a start made on the installation of a microwave radio highway for the ECN into which sector and group controls were to be linked.

188. On 29 September 1984 Air Commodore J Broughton assumed command of the Corps in succession to Air Commodore Black.

189. In June 1985 the control at Belfast was converted to message switch bringing the whole of the UKWMO onto the new system.

190. On 27 June 1985, Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh attended a Garden Party, held at Royal Air Force Bentley Priory, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the Corps. Two thousand officers and observers, representing all units of the Corps assembled at Bentley Priory for the occasion. The Queen and the Duke met and spoke with many of those who attended. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight consisting of a Lancaster, a Hurricane and a Spitfire, in the original Observer Corps markings flew past in 'V' formation as part of the Royal Salute. Her Majesty graciously accepted a jewelled hat-pin which was presented by the Commandant, Air Commodore Broughton, on behalf of all members of the Corps as a small token to mark the occasion. The visit concluded with a Royal Salute and three rousing cheers for Her Majesty.

191. On September 1986 Air Commodore I Horrocks took over the appointment of Commandant from Air Commodore Broughton.

192. In July 1988 the first of a new generation of automated switchboards (SX 2000) was installed at Horsham and Oxford controls. The installation was completed in all Groups by March 1989 providing a national private telephone network with little need for operator intervention.

193. In September 1989 Air Commodore G M Boddy OBE succeeded Air Commodore Horrocks at Commandant of the Corps.