Britain's Secret Little Bunkers - ROC Posts

Hello and welcome to episode 21 of Buxton Barrow Man my volunteering series!
Today's video is on the over 1,500 little bunkers we have across Britain.
Map Link:
www.subbrit.org.uk/categories...
Pictures Used:
www.urbexforums.com/showthrea...
www.roc-heritage.co.uk/undergr...
coldwar.org.uk/building-a-bun...
bobmarshall.artstation.com/pr...
www.thetimechamber.co.uk/beta...
Shot on: GoPro Hero11
Music:
Dreamer by Hazy
/ hazy_music
www.plugnplaymusic.net

[@richlc]

Thank you that bought back memories. I was an Observer eventually Chief Observer for the Buxton post in the 1980s. Buxton was a designated master post, so we had to relay additional information. It was closed in 1991.

[@Leock]

That’s amazing, thank you for watching. I was aware Buxton was a master post but I was unsure what that meant so thank you for the explanation :) Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!

[@richlc]

@@Leock I hope your weekends going well too. I did have to sign the Official Secrets Act but I’m happy to tell, it was weather related. Reporting wind speed and direction to assist in fallout and radiation calculations. We did get a reply on exercise comms from group “It’s not snowing here” as we were shovelling snow to keep the hatch clear.

[@Leock]

Brilliant! Oh so typical for Buxton to be snowed in when the weather could be completely fine just down the road in chapel.

[@iwbarke]

The "Master Posts", those in each Group were numbered 10, 15, 20, 25 Post etc, were also equiped with radio to communicate with the Group HQ on behalf of their cluster of Posts as a backup to the main landline links between those Posts and to the Group HQ. Not sure where the Group Boundary would have been but think Buxton may have been part of Coventry Group, or perhaps Preston. Was also with the ROC. At Harby (Lincoln 57 Post) in Leicestershire from 1981 to 1988, then full time at the 30 Group HQ at Inverness for a couple of years before the final year at the time of the main stand down in 1991 in a temporary post at HQROC, RAF Bentley Priory. It was always quite an experience to be in a Post during the "night shift" of the Annual 24 hour excercise. Things were usually very quiet then. Both outside in the darkness and inside in terms of the data to be forwarded at that stage of the exercise. You needed to take plenty of supplies and eat your way through the night.

[@richlc]

@@iwbarke Yes Buxton was in 8 Group Coventry, Jon Layne was our Group Officer. I can’t remember why but at one point we did communicate with Preston. I can remember visiting Preston too, it was an impressive setup. I only visited Bentley Priory once for The Royal Garden Party. Happy days.

[@richardlilley6274]

Thank you for sharing... No doubt after travelling all that way I'd have used my trusty shovel to get the darn hatch open

[@islaws4589]

Great video. I first heard of these via Ringway Manchester who pointed one out in a pub car park on Werneth Low where I had been many times unaware!

[@tango6nf477]

Because of its geographic location Derbyshire during the cold war would not have survived a nuclear attack as we were literally surrounded by targets, Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke, Nottingham, the West Midlands and of course Derby. The county would have been totally irradiated. The ROC in the bunkers could have lasted a week or so but eventually they would have run out of food and they too would have died. It was a very frightening time and I sometimes wonder how we managed to ignore the fear and just get on with things, but we did.

[@naguerea]

thanks for posting.

[@andiscott8470]

Ours in Sutton Bassett is very well taken care of. Not sure who "manages" it now, I have a feeling it is the parish council, but it is completely in tact, on (now) private land, secure and is opened up at certain times for visitors. I think it will be open for the D Day 80 weekend. Great little place.

[@Leock]

Luckily there’s quite a few up and down the country that have been preserved. Maybe one day I’ll find myself in one :)

[@Ckearpf]

Thanks for the instructions, I'm building a ROC bunker in me garden now x

[@Leock]

Have fun!

[@BedsitBob]

It's pronounced Core, not Corpse.