BASE OF OPERATIONS
The event will be held at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, a museum and working airfield in Essex, by kind permission of the charity’s CEO and trustees.
In our game, RAF Stow Maries has been hastily pressed into service as a temporary sector control station, after German bombing badly damaged the 11 Group control rooms at RAF Uxbridge. Stow Maries has been serving as a ground station for the Chain Home radar system, but is now also providing a home to several of the fighter squadrons from the damaged airfields.
Life on Base
When not on duty, the WAAF and RAF personnel share the same base. They eat meals and drink tea in the same mess hall, attend the same station events and have all the complicated relationships that any group of people sharing a living space in a high-pressure situation do.
The new base commander is eager to build a community spirit and has instigated a number of social activities. The first of these is the opening Friday Dance, which will take place in the Mess. This will let you meet everyone’s characters, establish your relationships in person, and perhaps enjoy a quiet flirtation.
The Mess is always open, and a good place to gravitate to when you aren’t needed elsewhere. You can always find a biscuit and someone to gossip with there, and it’s the first place people will come looking for help. It’s also where all meals are served, and these will be available in shifts to enable every Watch to eat.
If you want somewhere quieter, the Chapel is also always open and welcomes worshippers of all denominations. Although Stow Maries doesn’t yet have its own chaplain, base personnel are able to seek solace and advice from each other in this more secluded space.
More private still is the Pilot’s Ready Room, where the RAF hold briefings and prepare for missions. A small room, set back from the road and facing away from the rest of the base, this is the ideal place for a moment of stolen romance.
For the more socially inclined, there will be a cricket match after lunch on Saturday - RAF against WAAF - and a concert in the evening which will require rehearsals throughout the day. There will also be several visitors to the base with varying agendas, who need to be entertained.
The Operations Room itself is the heart of Stow Maries. Located opposite the Mess, this is where you will work when on shift. The three Watches operate in staggered shifts so there will always be an overlap of personnel. There’s the opportunity for healthy rivalry between Watches, which should not be indulged whilst on duty but can find expression in various ways outside the Operations Room.
Finally, there’s the post to take care of, plenty of paperwork to look at (with or without permission), and a never-ending need for tea.
Practical Information
Accessibility
The site itself is fully accessible by wheelchair. There are no stairs, and a disabled toilet is available. We will also have an Off Game space available for those who need to take a break.
Any and all modern mobility aids, assistive technology etc. required will be entirely acceptable and should be regarded as OOC by all players.
We will attempt to make sure that all accessibility needs are catered for wherever possible. Please do get in touch if you have any questions or would like to check the game’s suitability.
Please note, however, that WAAF characters will frequently be put in high pressure situations and will constantly need to handle numbers when on shift. These factors are fundamental to the game and cannot be avoided.
Sleeping on base
As Stow Maries Aerodrome has only just been pressed into service as a temporary sector control station, the bunk rooms are not yet operational. There will be space for bell tents if you wish to camp In Character, and a concealed area for modern tents if you want to camp Out of Character. You can hire a bell tent from Rent Bell Tents.
There is limited indoor space for camp beds, etc. in the crew room. If you need one of these for mobility/medical reasons, please contact the organisers.
Sleeping off base
WAAF were often billeted with local families near the base, travelling in for their shifts. If you would like to sleep in a real bed, there are hotels / B&Bs available in the surrounding area.
Toilets & Bathrooms
There are Men’s and Women’s toilets in the Mess, and in the office block in front of the White Hangar. There is a Disabled toilet in the main offices/museum, accessed via the Crew Room.
There are no showers on site.
Catering
All meals on Friday and Saturday will be In Character, which means rationing is in effect! The menu is vegan friendly. You'll get a chance to make us aware of any additional dietary requirements before we decide on the menu.
There will be period-appropriate cakes and biscuits available at any time in the Mess, along with tea and coffee. Both cow’s milk and rice/oat milk is provided.
If you wish to bring additional snacks, drinks or any alcohol, you are welcome to do so. We ask that only period-appropriate food and drink be brought into in-game areas. And remember that being drunk on duty is a serious offence!
