The History of Ruddington Depot
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The End Game
Finale
In May 1979 Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister and was determined to reduce public expenditure. As the turbulent decade came to an end, a yearlong Defence Review began. It recommended cuts in military expenditure, and the closure of some military bases and Ministry of Defence establishments. The Depot was doomed, and the announcement of closure came at the end of 1981.
From
The Nottingham Evening Post, 24th & 26th November 1982Robert Hanson,
the chief auctioneer, recalls that:
“There was a break in at the depot in 1982 and ammunition was taken from one of the magazines. The IRA was suspected of carrying out the raid, but no one was arrested. Most of the things which were later found hidden in Sherwood Forest.”
Roslyn Wilson continued to work at the Depot until the very end.
“We had a year’s notice, and we were helped to find other jobs. If we transferred to another military establishment we could leave immediately. It was very sad. People just slowly drifted away week by week. Some had a farewell drink with friends at one of the Ruddington pubs before they left, but there were no leaving parties. No one had the heart. Everyone was entitled to some redundancy money, but those with more than 5 year’s service had to wait until they retired to receive it. I haven’t got mine yet.”
The last sale, the 179th and one of the largest since the start, began on the 13th June 1983 and lasted for 5 days. More than 2,300 vehicles were sold. After that, all Ministry of Defence surplus was dealt with through private companies through six regional centres.
For Robert Hanson of Walker, Walton and Hanson, the sales had been a consistent part of his professional life for over 35 years and he had made many friends among the regulars:
“I knew (them) from when they first started and they came for 20 years. Most of them were upset when the sales stopped, because it was a market place where they met their friends and talked business. It was quite a social occasion with a very good atmosphere and they found it depressing when it finished. “
There was less and less work to do, and plenty of time for tidying up and a final ‘spit and polish.’. Everything was left in immaculate condition. On December 31st 1983 the gates were locked for the last time. The Depot was closed just as it had been opened, unobtrusively and without ceremony.
The Story > Chapter 8 > Section 8.07