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
   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.

Click here to return to Drumbeat Home Page