September 2002 - An email to Linn Barringer (for publication on this web site)

Wow !!!!

Where to start ?????

I have been going over all the events of the last 10 days in my mind, we crammed a lot of wonderful things into such a short time. I hope you will put this on your web site and the bushmasters site as well. I truly hope it will help others that are planning to come back to EAST ANGLIA to visit RAF BENTWATERS and RAF WOODBRIDGE.

First let me say, it was a GREAT PLEASURE to meet you and your lovely wife Vivien face to face after all this time and many, many e-mails. As we discussed before BECKY'S and my arrival, I read and read the many letters of comments on your WE CAME BACK section on your site, I had decided that we, BECKY & I would make up our own mind about how we would or would not enjoy our trip back.

I must say, to the ones that wrote you and bitched and belly ached about the changes that have taken place over the years should have stayed home, I believe they would most likely be the type that would bitch if you hung them with a new rope.

Everything changes over time - yes it is too bad that a good use could not have been found for the twin bases. In the case of RAF WOODBRIDGE, it is being used by the BRITISH ARMY, in the case of RAF BENTWATERS, it too is being used by the MAN that now owns it - I think that is important, again, RAF BENTWATERS is being used by the man that now owns it. That being MR. KEMBALL, he certainly could have said, NO trespassing and that would have been the end.

Now that not being the case, MR KEMBALL has been extremely sensitive to the history of RAF BENTWATERS. If we Yanks want to view the remains of RAF BENTWATERS, MR. KEMBALL has made that possible for us. All we have to do is understand who now owns BENTWATERS and who now allows us the privilege to visit it within his rules.

It seems very reasonable to me and I took advantage of MR KEMBALLS generosity and I truly appreciated his kindness. It also needs to be noted that MR. KEMBALL is in the process of establishing a MUSEUM on his property for US. He sure did not have to. So where I am going with this is simple: contact Linn Barringer, and/or Bentwaters Parks before going.

I must inject this at this point, I became aware of what an important part that you MR. BARRINGER play in all of this. It became more apparent to me as I spent more time each day with you, it is clear that MR. KEMBALL has a very trusting respectful relationship with you and I now know first hand what an advantage that is. It allowed us to see more and do more on RAF BENTWATERS without a personal guide looking over our shoulder or watching our every move.

Now having said all that pertaining to the BASES, let me move on to the other things. Yes prices are higher, gas is very high for cars, everything is pricey but hey, its the same anywhere else, I just paid $250.00 per night for a hotel room in MEMPHIS TENN not more than a month ago. If the cost of going is a problem for you, then by all means don't go, you will be unhappy and when you get back stateside you will make bad, untrue statements that perhaps would discourage someone else from going.

My BECKY and I had the greatest time, we went and seen the bases, then we really got to it, we took in all the sites, At this point I need to inject a discussion that I had with LINN, RENTAL CARS at GATWICK or HEATHROW are costly, its a pain in the butt. Consider taking a train to Ipswich or Woodbridge. You can rent a car in WOODBRIDGE TOWN or IPSWICH or take trains, the train service has not changed, you can go anywhere on the train or bus. The traffic is terrible, the thousands of bicycles have changed to thousands of cars and they are all in a hurry, going down the other side of the road, faster than a speeding bullet and you are in the way. I did not find it difficult in driving around the countryside, it was only on the big MOTORWAYS that had me worried, I solved most of that by riding with LINN.

I hope I have encouraged some of you to return, I know many of you have already and can do your own thing, for those like me that this is the first time in many many years, jump on the net, talk to LINN BARRINGER he can help you avoid that bad things that can happen and eliminate problems of not being familiar with your surroundings. BECKY and I had the time of our life, we hope to be able to do it again, we made a GREAT FRIEND in LINN BARRINGER, he does not help us Yanks for the money, he and his wife are real true folks. You also will discover that if you take advantage of what he can do for you.

If any one reading this is planning on going back and would like to ask me questions please contact me via e-mail or phone, 1-515-266-7237.

As I said before, BECKY & I had the time of our lives, it was GREAT.

Regards LARRY & BECKY PEGG

Here is a SMALL selection of the many photos from our return trip:

Woodbridge Bull Hotel	Woodbridge ShireHall	Bull Hotel group Helen also returned	Woodbridge New Street	Woodbridge Woolworths
RAF Woodbridge	RAF Woodbridge BX	RAF Bentwaters Welcome	RAF Bentwaters Clock	RAF Bentwaters USAFE decal
Orford Castle	Orford Castle View Of Lighthouse	Larry and Becky on the ferry to Orfordness	Orfordness Lighthouse detail	Orfordness Lighthouse
	Snape Golden Key	London Palace Of Westminster	Snape Bridge