Drumbeat Highlights

Drumbeat's Timeline
for the Tidworth, Netheravon & Bulford Garrison Community

1997	1 June	Issue 1 of Drumbeat hits the streets !
1998	22 March	A new War Memorial is dedicated and unveiled at the Tidworth Royal British Legion Club on 22 Mar 98 to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Tidworth Royal British Legion Branch and Club.
	9 - 13 June	The National Theatre perform their production of "Oh What a Lovely War" in a circus big top in the grounds of Tedworth Park as part of Salisbury Festival 1998. The show attracted national media interest !
	July	Station Road improvements : New street lighting, traffic calming and landscaping are financed by the Single Regeneration Budget
	2 September	New All-Weather Sports pitch funded by money from the Army Sports Lottery. The opening ceremony was performed by the Adjutant General Sir Alex Harley
1999	May & October	First radio trials take place in the Garrison. British Forces Network BFN (a partnership between BFBS and Chiltern Broadcast Management formed specifically for the trials) broadcast to the 4 main UK garrisons using FM Restricted Service Licences.
	September	Haig Centre opens in Bulford. The Haig Centre caters for young people from Tots to Teens, housing all Bulford's youth organisations and amenities.
	16 October	1st Tidworth Scouts : The new scout hut in Humber Lane was officially opened by Garrison Commander Colonel Robin Faulkner.
	December	The Millennium Yew is planted in Tedworth Park
2000	1 January	Drumbeat celebrated the new millennium with a special edition. Click here to read the Millennium Edition
	1 April	Tidworth Development Trust, a company limited by Guarantee, was formed on 25 Jan 2000 and opened its doors for business on 1st April 2000
	May	Australian Estate in Perham Down : first occupants move in to the newly re-built quarters.
	15 June	Millennium Beating Retreat by the massed bands of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division on the Tidworth Polo Ground. The show included a display flight by the new Apache attack helicopter.
	8 October	Tidworth Leisure Centre opens its doors to the public
	21 November	Official Joint Opening of the TLC and the refurbished Oval
	11 December	The Garrison gets its own permanent radio station. BFBS Forces Radio 1287 begins broadcasting to TNB Garrison from their studio at The Beeches Families Centre in Bulford.
2001	February	The Army Learning Centre opens at 10/78 AEC
	16 - 18 May	Channel 4's Time Team spend a week investigating an area of Salisbury Plain near Netheravon Airfield : they discover many artefacts and evidence of Iron Age and Roman habitation - and they build an Iron Age hut with the help of local children and soldiers from 3(UK)Div in Bulford. The Channel 4 programme on their website
	6 - 9 June	Swedish Circus comes to the TLC as part of the Salisbury Festival 2001
	2 July	Garrison Radio 1287 begins broadcasting to TNB Garrison. The studio moves to premises co-located with Naafi Financial in Station Road, Tidworth.
	July	Community "Workshop" held at TLC as part of the Entec Survey for the Tidworth Town Strategy, sponsored by the Tidworth Partnership.
	July	Launch of E-Info - Bringing Information to Everyone in Tidworth. Co-located with TEMPO in Wylye Road. It is now easier for people in Tidworth to gain access to information and public services via computer links in the new drop-in centre.
	26 August	HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the Basic Skills Agency, visited 10 AEC to see the work the Army is doing to help improve the numeracy and literacy skills of its soldiers.
2002	February	Tidworth Parish Council starts process to join the parishes of North and South Tidworth to form the Town of Tidworth
	March	Primary Health Care Centre - contract signed with contractor, Taylor Woodrow plc. New Health Centre due for completion in Summer 2003
	25 April	BBC's Antiques Roadshow filmed at the Tidworth Leisure Centre. The BBC team spent a week in Tidworth filming the show.
	June	Golden Jubilee 2002
	July	Jubilee Beating Retreat by the 3rd(UK) Division Massed Bands on Tidworth Tattoo Ground
	August	Castledown School starts fundraising to become a Business & Enterprise Specialist School
	6 September	HQ Theatre Troops Formation Parade at Netheravon. Salute taken by Gen Sir Mike Jackson, CinC Land Command
2003	January	Lucknow Barracks : Rebuild Project Contract signed with contractor, Carillion Construction Ltd. New barracks due for completion in October 2004
	1 May	Tidworth's "Roadhouse" is finally demolished
	9 June	TV's popular gardener, Charlie Dimmock, officially opens the new pond and wildlife area at Zouch School in Tidworth
	23 July	Aspire Defence Limited is named as the Provisional Preferred Bidder for Project Allenby/Connaught.
	28 July	Tidworth's new Primary Health Care Centre opens its doors to patients. This Health Centre was one of the first building projects to be carried out as a "Prime Contract" : contractors Taylor Woodrow plc designed the building in close conjunction with the MOD and will maintain the building for the first 3 years of its life.
2004	January	The Market and Coastal Towns initiative (MCTi) Working Group publishes the Tidworth Community Area Partnership (TCAP) Plan. View online
	January	12 Mechanized Brigade completes its move from Aldershot and raises its flag outside its new Headquarters in Bulford
	1 April	Ministry of Defence Police operations on Salisbury Plain move to a new HQ in Tidworth.
	16 April	Two floodlit tennis courts are opened in the grounds of the TLC by Major General Simon Lytle CBE, the Director of the Army Sport Control Board..
	9 September	"Topping out" ceremony unveils the new clock tower at the almost completed Lucknow Barracks in Tidworth.
	15 September	Tidworth's new Health Centre is officially named "The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Health Centre" by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
	6 December	The Lucknow Barracks rebuild is completed and the Barracks handed back to the Garrison. The first Unit to move in to it is 1RRW in February 2005
2005	19 January	Aspire Defence Ltd, the Preferred Bidders for Project Allenby, completes the construction of a Demonstration Accommodation Block in Swinton Barracks in Perham Down.
	12 March	The Castledown Media Centre is launched by Phil Harding, of Channel 4's Time Team fame.
	April	Defence Estates sells Station Road Green in Tidworth to Tesco Supermarket
	June	Work begins on the new Courts Martial Centre in Bulford. Contractors : Mansell Construction
	August	Buildings in Airfield Camp in Netheravon, which date from 1913, are given a 2 Star Grading as listed buildings by English Heritage.
	October	The first "Tidworth 10K and 3K Fun Run" raises over £11.000 for the Pembroke Cancer Unit at Salisbury Hospital
2006	January	"Topping out" ceremony at the Courts Martial Centre in Bulford
	January/February	Tesco outline planning permission "Recommended" by Kennet District Council Regulatory Committee
	16 March	OfCom announces the award of two FM community radio licences in our area : Salisbury Plain Army Radio and Castledown Radio
	20 March	First of the Edwardian buildings in Assaye Barracks, Tidworth, comes down in the pre-contract work for Project Allenby
	April	Neighbourhood Policing Partnership formed
	7 April	The start of Project Allenby/Connaught is officially announced by the USofS for Defence.
	10 July	Vesting Day : From today, Aspire Defence Ltd are responsible for delivering Project Allenby/Connaught in the Aldershot and Salisbury Plain garrisons.
	4 November	Castledown Radio, broadcasting to the Tidworth Community Area, goes live on 104.7 FM
	November	The NAAFI / Spar shop at the top of Station Road in Tidworth closes.
	November	Garrison Radio moves to new premises at The Old Armoury at the top of Ordnance Road, Tidworth.
	11 December	The Army's radio service moves to FM 106.8, officially launched by radio & television personality, Johnny Vaughan. The better strength of signal now reaches Larkhill Garrison.
2007	1 February	A new Regiment is formed : 2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, based in Bulford, becomes 4th Battalion The Rifles. (Drumbeat issue 117)
	March	Phase 1 of the Tidworth Equestrian Centre being built in the old walled garden of Tedworth House is completed this month.
	29 March	The Aspire Business Centre (formerly RBL Tidworth College) is opened by Commander Regional Forces, Lt Gen John McColl.
	May	Work begins on the new Tesco store in Tidworth's Station Road.
	July	First new accommodation blocks to be completed under Project Allenby for 1RHA in Tidworth
	1 September	A new Regiment is formed : The Staffordshire Regiment, based in Tidworth, becomes 3rd Battalion (Staffords), The Mercian Regiment. (Drumbeat issue 124)
	19 October	New Barracks for 2nd Royal Tank Regiment is officially opened by Defence Secretary, Des Browne and the Chief of trhe General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt. (Drumbeat issue126)
	3 December	New Tesco store in Tidworth's Station Road is officially opened by Commander, 43 (Wessex) Brigade, brigadier Jolyon Jackson and Steve Dagger, Chairman of the Tidworth Town Council. (drumbeat issue 128)
2008	1 Mar	Zulu leader, Chief Buthelezi, visits 2 R Welsh on St David's Day. (Drumbeat issue 130)
	December	Commander 43 (Wessex) Brigade, Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, begins the tree replanting programme by planting a New Horizon Elm tree in Tedworth Park.
2009	31 March	7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Volunteers) is disbanded after 40 years at Netheravon
	May	43 (Wessex) Brigade Headquarters moves from Bulford to Jellalabad Barracks in Tidworth.
	May	26 Engineer Regiment moves from Corunna Barracks near Ludgershall into new purpose-built accommodation in Swinton Barracks, alongside 22 Engineer Regiment
	May	A double Centenary at the Garrison Theatre : 100 years for the Theatre ... and for the Pickernell family who have managed it throughout that time.
	18 June	3 (United Kingdom) Division celebrates it Bi-Centenary. The Iron Division was formed in Portugal on 18th June 1809.
	July	Tidworth 3-Day Festival was CANCELLED
	12 August	Tidworth Development Trust ceased trading
	August	3rd Bn (Staffords) The Mercian Regiment moves to Fallingbostel in Germany to join 7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats). 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers move to Tidworth from Fallingbostel.
	September	Wellington Academy opens its doors for the first time, in the grounds and buildings which used to be Castledown School.
	October	Centenary Band Concert at the Garrison Theatre
	17 December	The new Garrison Super Gym and Rehabilitation Centre in Tidworth is officially opened by Sgt Gavin Harvey of 6CS Bn REME, a soldier who was seriously injured in Afghanistan in August 2009.
2010	March	4 (CS) Bn REME arrive in Tidworth from Bordon.
	3 March	Garrison's Got Talent ! Click here to view a short video from BFBS about this X-Factor style Talent Show which raised £4500 for SSAFA Forces Help