ON the subject of Bovingdon Airfield, A.J. Pink, of Abbots Langley, wrote in reply to a question about the airfield's history: "In 1954, during National Service, I was posted to the radar unit of RAF Chenies.

"Although probably within the official boundary of Chenies parish, the radar unit is on the opposite side of the Chess Valley and we were billeted at the RAF Bovingdon domestic site at the corner of the green behind and to the right of the Royal Oak.

"At that time the Royal Oak was literally a 'public house' with no apparent bar and beer only, drawn from barrels on stands in the back room.

"Military flying activity, both by the Americans and RAF Coastal Command, from the airfield was steadily diminishing and we rader lads far outnumbered the rest at the domestic site.

"I do believe there was some level of civil aviation at Bovingdon, although I never once set foot on the airfield during my time there.

"The reason for this belief is that on one occasion, while hitching a lift down the road to Boxmoor, a comrade and I were picked up by a chauffeur-driven Daimler car.

"The driver told us that he had just delivered his passenger to Bovingdon for a flight somewhere abroad.

"This incident particularly sticks in my mind as we then enjoyed a luxury ride all the way to London, where we were dropped off at Chelsea Embankment.

"Just a 'tuppenny ride' across the bridge to Battersea which was then my home."