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Those of you who attended the 2021 Reunion will perhaps remember my Presidential address, where I recounted some of my experiences in Abu Dhabi. It was 1973 and we were installing a Marconi S600 Radar System for the Abu Dhabi Defence Force.

S600

10 years later, Marconi Radar provided a similar system for use in the Falklands following the Argentine invasion. This was referred to by Dave Lowrey from the Air Defence Radar Museum (ADRM). Dave joined us as a speaker following contact from myself regarding a S600 related project that is under way at the ADRM.

Learning that the Surveillance Antenna and Cabin that was used in the Falklands was on display at the ADRM, I vowed to visit so I could show Chris and our son, David, what I was doing in Abu Dhabi for 6 months at the beginning of 1973. Health problems prevented me from visiting before now but I managed it in October 2024.

Let’s get the boring details out of the way. The ADRM is located near Horning in Norfolk. Access is via a narrow winding road (with passing places) so take care. The car park is a fair size and surfaced.  Access to the museum is good. It is all at ground level although this does vary by few feet in places so there are a few sets of steps. The café is light and airy (as is most of the museum) serving good food at reasonable prices. There are toilets which are clean and accessible.

Now to the museum itself. The car park is edged by a grassed area upon which are several radar related exhibits not least of which is the ex-Falklands S600. Other items include a Bloodhound missile and Rapier missile each with their control cabin. The entrance leads to a small, but well stocked, shop.

As you progress into the museum, the first thing you see is a model of the Marconi Martello radar. At this point, in explaining to Chris and David how radar worked, I found myself with an extended audience.

Although the ADRM is a bit of a rabbit warren, you are given a leaflet, including a clear map, on entry.  This leaflet also includes background information on the ADRM and how radar was discovered.

Highlight of the tour is the exhibit at the far end of your visit – the Cold War Rooms. Here you will see the area where a continuous watch was kept during the cold war period. There are dozens of radar displays, situation boards and audio which adds to the atmosphere.  One of the buttons on the console is labelled “Pigeons”. I won’t spoil things by saying what the response was when we asked but it was quite amusing. If you really want to know, ask me at the reunion.

Elsewhere in the museum you will find examples of the plotting tables used during WWII, cockpits from Jaguar and Tornado aircraft that you can actually sit in - mind you, you need to be pretty agile to do so as they are very cramped and an ejector seat (deactivated!). There are numerous Marconi Radar related models around the museum and an impressive model of a Bloodhound launch site. In addition, there is much emphasis on the role of women.

Around two thirds of the way, there is the History Room which contains many Marconi Radar models and some display consoles.

I have mentioned the highlights but there are many more exhibits to see. We spent over 3 hours there (including lunch when we arrived and a coffee before we left – it was raining!) but could easily have spent twice that time.

All the exhibits are labelled with lots of back-up information. The volunteers are very knowledgeable – many of them having direct experience of the subject. And, of course, you could sometimes get a visitor who ends up explaining radar.

There are a number of talks given every day – these are announced in plenty of time.

With my background in Radar, I found the ADRM extremely interesting but Chris and David also thoroughly enjoyed the visit and we have agreed that we will try and make another visit early next year (Tickets give you free entry for 12 months).

In the 1969 film Battle of Britain, there is an exchange between a civil servant and Hugh Dowding which goes as follows:-

  • Senior civil servant: I see. So I'm to tell the Cabinet, that you're trusting in radar and praying to God, is that right?
  • Dowding: [chuckles] More accurately the other way round. Trusting in God and praying for radar.

The ADRM is in Birds Lane, Neatishead Norwich NR12 8YB   Web www.radarmuseum.co.uk

It is well worth a visit