CHERRY blossom was on the trees, but the last hours of RAF Uxbridge’s long association with the town were characterised by lowering skies and an icy wind.

Hundreds of people – among them former air force personnel and station commanders - attended the final sunset ceremony, many of the guests were given some scant protection from the elements in three large seating blocks which had been set up on the parade ground.

The heavens opened just as Mayor of Hillingdon, Shirley Harper-O’Neill, and Air Vice Marshall Hillier, Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, set off across the tarmac of the parade ground to inspect their guard of honour.

The Mayor was then ceremonially handed back the illuminated scroll granting the RAF the freedom of Uxbridge, which it has held for 50 years.

The day had an air of unreality about it. The Royal Air Force has been a permanent fixture for so long in the town, the thought of it no longer occupying its strategic position close to the heart of Uxbridge has, for many, yet to hit home.

Political tensions – domestically in Northern Ireland, and internationally towards the end of the 20th century – compelled the base to a more arm’s length relationship.

Up until the late 1970s there was a degree of public access, including events like the annual St George’s Day parade which brought hundreds of Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Air Cadets and many others to the site, but this all came to an end following an IRA bomb attack on the Suvla accommodation block in January 1981. Fortunately, no-one was killed in the blast.

Service personnel used to be an easily identifiable and familiar site on the streets of Uxbridge, but this, too, had to come to an end for security reasons. The RAF did, however, continue to march down the high street, bravely exercising its freedom of the town.

Writing in the commemorative booklet A Fond Farewell, RAF Uxbridge’s last station commander, Group Captain Tom Barrett, summed up the general mood:

“Throughout my dealings with the Mayor and Leader of the council, I know that the town of Uxbridge is really sensing a loss, too, and this reflects the view of the broader RAF community.

“However, the Chief of the Air Staff, who sent a message of goodwill to the station, has noted that today should be a celebration of what RAF Uxbridge has achieved over the past years.

“This is prescient given the fact that as a station, RAF Uxbridge is older than the RAF, and a huge number of our personnel have passed through the gates both in wartime and in peace.”

“The station evolved from humble beginnings on land which formed part of the Hillingdon House Estate, and that magnificent building has played a major role in the history of RAF Uxbridge; it is therefore only right that it is being retained under the redevelopment plans.”

The formalities over, eyes glistened and there were lumps in the throat as the RAF ensign was gently lowered for the last time at 5pm yesterday (Wednesday), a Spitfire passing high overhead.

The guard of honour took a final turn of the tarmac to the strains of The RAF March played by the Royal Air Force Central Band, before marching southwards off the parade ground. A long era had ended.