Portadown Post

30/09/2026

To mark the 35th Anniversary of the stand down of the Royal Observer Corps Group Headquarters and Nuclear Monitoring Posts, Belfast 31 Group Royal Observer Corps Association arranged for Lisburn Civic Centre to be illuminated in blue.

We were also in attendance during daylight hours with the Group Standard.

“Forewarned is Forearmed”.

21/08/2026

Some video from BBC Rewind showing RAF Bishopscourt in 1985.

Absolutely fantastic to see the Type 80 Radar and the HF200 Height Finders on the airfield along with incredible footage of the hardened Control & Reporting Post (CRP) being built.

What will you find? Explore thousands of recent archive clips from around the UK.

19/08/2026

Very proud to have played a (albeit small) roll in this building taking on a new lease of life.

It’s absolutely stunning and the attention to detail shows how much the new occupants care about its history.

Look out for it opening for tours during the upcoming EHOD event in September.

An old nuclear bunker in the suburbs of south Belfast is now protecting paperwork rather than people.

Read more here: https://bbc.in/4wD0BtI

21/07/2026

Apologies for the radio silence over the summer. I have been so busy with family holidays, family weddings… basically FAMILY STUFF!

Hopefully back to a bit of bunker normality and maybe an open day (or two) in the coming months.

Until then I will give you a quick update on what has been happening recently.

The bunker is still being regularly visited and maintained, we have some new exhibits for display and have also updated some of the old ones to make them more user friendly.

In much bigger news…

In collaboration with HeroNI I have been involved with the team restoring the former Regional War Room at Mount Eden Park Belfast. The bunker is going to be used as a secure archive store and has been painstakingly adapted for this purpose whilst retaining all of existing features from its use as both a Civil Defence Headquarters and Government facility.

I have donated some original equipment and ephemera and also provided access to all my Cold War digital archive, some of which has been copied and will be displayed in the former plant room of the building.

I got a behind the scenes look this morning and I was completely blown away by the attention to detail. It officially opens next month and I have been invited along to see the ribbon being cut and I will make sure to get plenty of photographs and video on the day.

**The building will also be open for public tours for EHOD 2026 in September**.

I snapped a few pictures today and those are shown below.

Enjoy!

01/04/2026

At an event today at the Ulster Aviation Society hangers in Lisburn I was able to get Chief of the Air Staff Harvey Smyth to sign a print featuring the WWII Observer Corps Spitfire.

I presented a framed copy of this print on behalf of 31 Group Royal Observer Corps Association to Sir Harvey last year at Stormont.

A replica of this Spitfire sits outside RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

16/02/2026

It’s been awfully quiet around here!

In the news today concerning bunkers in Northern Ireland…

Kilrea Post appears to be getting an extension at some point in the future if the local planning office agrees.

It’s nice to see that the post itself will be retained, with below ground access from the new dwelling too.

Yes, I have contacted the architect to offer my services, sure why would you not!

As we approach the end of the winter all eyes are on getting Portadown Post ready for our 2026 open days. All the details will be made available when I have them organised.

Plans are below.

25/11/2025

Both Colin and myself and very saddened to hear of the passing of local journalist Charlie Warmington.

He has visited the museum on a number of occasions over the years and written some excellent articles on us.

RIP Charlie.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/one-of-the-good-guys-tributes-paid-following-death-of-former-news-letter-columnist-and-bbc-ni-editor/a443749786.html?fbclid=IwRlRTSAOTEQxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe3g4sGfaWkCDSEffYR1-EWOZAHmmjMoiaqBgotvb7cWMsEJm7_Lfjirs-Wn4_aem_Fo7l0GKpPFGV9-xHe5xouQ

Tributes have been paid following the death of former News Letter columnist and BBC Northern Ireland editor Charlie Warmington.

09/11/2025

Our own Colin Woods representing 31 Group Royal Observer Corps Association at the Remembrance Service at All Saints Church Eglantine this morning.

29/10/2025

Today marks 100 years since the formation of the Observer Corps.

The eyes and ears.

From their first tentative steps in the early days of WWII, to the heights of the Battle of Britain, through the binocular lens they kept watch over the villages, towns and cities. It is no surprise that they became the Royal Observer Corps.

The ROC do it underground.

With the atomic age being thrust upon us, it was once again the men & women of the Royal Observer Corps who would form a vital link in the chain for the defence of our nation. From the confines of monitoring posts & operations rooms they faithfully carried out their duty once again.

Duty done.

I salute you all, to those that are no-longer with us and to those of you that I am proud to call friends and colleagues, the beacon will never be extinguished.

Forewarned is forearmed.

21/09/2025

Not everyday of the week you see the US Navy’s airborne nuclear command and control ‘Doomsday’ jet flying over Northern Ireland.

On its way to Germany apparently.