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Memories of a misspent childhood
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| Bob Green . . . then |
THE boys who were roaming around Weymouth's abandoned Nothe Fort 50 years ago have answered a call from staff to come forward and help with a film about its colourful history.
The historic site suffered widespread vandalism during the 1960s and 1970s when teenagers explored tunnels and rooms vacated by the military.
Now some of the vandals' are shedding a little light on their adventures to help staff with a film about the fort.
Bob Green, 58, who now lives in Halden, Norway, sent the Echo details of his childhood Fort adventures after being sent a story about its film appeal.
Nearly 50 years ago he was a 10-year-old smashing windows with stones and catapults.
He said: "We were always on edge, ready to run to the nearest escape when the police were daft enough to try and catch us or more aggressive gangs came looking for trouble.
"If we did get bored the holidaymakers would suffer. When they came to look through the slots in the main gate we would pour dirty water over them from the watch post above.
"I was also first with graffiti. My friend and I wrote Bob and Crip on the roofs of the buildings in the courtyard and I also wrote my girlfriend's name, much to her horror.
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| Bob Green . . . now |
"The council tried the best they could to keep us out. They eventually fixed metal sheets over the main gate and fixed a padlock on the outside.
"We simply knocked off the lock and I put my own on. From the age of 12 the Notheys' could shout to me to let them in and here started the first guided tours of the fort.
"The council and I were constantly ruining each others' locks till they mounted the biggest padlock I'd ever seen. It was November so I bought some bangers, stuffed the huge lock with gunpowder, put the fuse in the keyhole and lit it. After that the council gave up.
"We became the caretakers of the fort and kept out the undesirables."
That included getting rid of a tramp and two hippies who took up residence in the fort. They had a row and left after Bob arranged it to look as if each had stolen from the other.
Bob was there again when the council got 50 huge barrels of detergent from the Torrey Canyon oil tanker disaster and stored them in the fort.
He said: "Now it did state highly inflammable but who would believe detergent would burn? Two barrels were rolled into the next room along, one was opened and set alight. It did burn - and how. The culprits, all four of them, had to make a hasty retreat down the sea cable as the second barrel blew up. The story was all over the front page of the Echo next day.
"After this the council made a serious attempt to keep people out. The area above the main gate was bricked up and our sewer pipe entrance was concreted over. I think I wrote the date in it."
Bob and his friends eventually got jobs and left the fort alone.
He said: "I joined the human race and started playing pub football. I also played rugby on Saturdays, which I have always considered saved me from a bad life and was Weymouth first team's top try scorer in my first full season."
9:46am Thursday 24th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Bob Green, Norway on 9:20am Sat 26 Jul 08
Fort entrances. In 1960, you could simply walk though the main gate, as the Fort was still in use. After working hours there were doors to walk thought near the parapet, or windows to climb though in this earea It was possible to get though the iron bars, and into the guardhouse, first room on the left, or climb over the gate. Eventually all these entrances were bricked up. From the out building you could throw a grapplinghook onto the parapet, and climb in, not easy. If you wanted to get out quick you could jump off the parapet, I broke my heel and nose, when I tried. After we opened up the sewer pipe, you could easily get in and out from the rocks below. After the fire this was also bricked up. By 1968 there was only one way in, up the sea cable, which I believe is still there. This cable ought to be removed.
Fort entrances. In 1960, you could simply walk though the main gate, as the Fort was still in use. After working hours there were doors to walk thought near the parapet, or windows to climb though in this earea It was possible to get though the iron bars, and into the guardhouse, first room on the left, or climb over the gate. Eventually all these entrances were bricked up. From the out building you could throw a grapplinghook onto the parapet, and climb in, not easy. If you wanted to get out quick you could jump off the parapet, I broke my heel and nose, when I tried. After we opened up the sewer pipe, you could easily get in and out from the rocks below. After the fire this was also bricked up. By 1968 there was only one way in, up the sea cable, which I believe is still there. This cable ought to be removed.
Posted by: Bob Green, Norway on 9:59am Sat 26 Jul 08
Fort Entertainment. Firstly you had the finest views of Weymouth, and the bay. Navy ships moured up for target practice. Helicopters had rescue practice very close. On summer days the milk float stopped out side the main gate for us to help ourselfs to orange juice, as did the ice cream lorry, delivering to the kiosk on the pier. When you got fed up with eating them, there were always holiday makers to drop them on. The one's not covered in ice cream often asked us to let them in, and show them around. We had all sorts of fun with them in the magazines, when we "got lost". Then there was the battles, first with catapults, later with airpistols. The constant cat and mouse games with the council workers, and the police. Shall I go on? We felt so privileged to have the peace of the Fort to ourselfs, and to escape the over crouded town which prostituted itself to the holidaymakers.
Fort Entertainment. Firstly you had the finest views of Weymouth, and the bay. Navy ships moured up for target practice. Helicopters had rescue practice very close. On summer days the milk float stopped out side the main gate for us to help ourselfs to orange juice, as did the ice cream lorry, delivering to the kiosk on the pier. When you got fed up with eating them, there were always holiday makers to drop them on. The one's not covered in ice cream often asked us to let them in, and show them around. We had all sorts of fun with them in the magazines, when we "got lost". Then there was the battles, first with catapults, later with airpistols. The constant cat and mouse games with the council workers, and the police. Shall I go on? We felt so privileged to have the peace of the Fort to ourselfs, and to escape the over crouded town which prostituted itself to the holidaymakers.
Posted by: Perry Winkle, Weymouth on 12:55pm Sat 26 Jul 08
I was one of those in the Echo photo. Like you say the game was to explore the magazines, tunnels and air vents. Magical stuff for young lads and a real sanctuary! I remember once hiding from the police in one of the pitch black magazines - I was stood bolt upright against a wall not breathing and the chap walked straight past me from all of 6 inches!
I was one of those in the Echo photo. Like you say the game was to explore the magazines, tunnels and air vents. Magical stuff for young lads and a real sanctuary! I remember once hiding from the police in one of the pitch black magazines - I was stood bolt upright against a wall not breathing and the chap walked straight past me from all of 6 inches!
Posted by: Perry Winkle, Weymouth on 12:56pm Sat 26 Jul 08
I was one of those in the Echo photo. Like you say the game was to explore the magazines, tunnels and air vents. Magical stuff for young lads and a real sanctuary! I remember once hiding from the police in one of the pitch black magazines - I was stood bolt upright against a wall not breathing and the chap walked straight past me from all of 6 inches!
I was one of those in the Echo photo. Like you say the game was to explore the magazines, tunnels and air vents. Magical stuff for young lads and a real sanctuary! I remember once hiding from the police in one of the pitch black magazines - I was stood bolt upright against a wall not breathing and the chap walked straight past me from all of 6 inches!
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