Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.

What do you think you would do if you'd actually had to do it for real?

If it was the real thing, what would you have done?

This is Cold War Conversations.

If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.

Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at coldwarconversations.com.

Welcome to Cold War Conversations Episode 30, which is a fascinating visit I made to the Rushton-Spencer Royal Observer Corps Nuclear Monitoring Post in Staffordshire in the UK.

The equipment used in today's episode has kindly been provided by our supporters who make

monthly donations via Patreon, and I'd like to say a special thanks to all of them.

If you would like to support the podcast further and get access to some exclusive extras, then go to our website at

Cold Warconversations.com and click on the support the podcast menu option. Now back to today's

episode, my instructions were to meet in the Royal Oak Pub car park where I would be escorted to the post.

Right on 11am, David appeared and guided me up various little used country lanes up into the hills above

Rushton Spencer and then we turned onto a

rutted track. This went up further until a small well-kept compound appeared over the ridge.

Welcome to Rushden Spencer Royal Observer Corps Post.

I'm here today with David at the Rushden Spencer Royal Observer Corps Post.

Now I've been wanting to visit one of these posts for quite some time.

It is a lovely, sunny morning in Staffordshire today.

When were you signed up to the Royal Observer Corps?

Myself, I joined in as later as 1982. I only managed nine years because we were stood down in 91.

And basically it was through a colleague of mine who was a member and he just came along

...