Culture And Memory

Forewarned is Forearmed: Royal Observer Corps 100

Forewarned is Forearmed will activate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), a nationwide defence network who monitored Britain’s skies. Centred on the last preserved Cold War Bunker, located in York, English Heritage (EH) and delivery partner Digital Drama will capture oral histories from ROC volunteers, preserving their testimony before it is lost. A press release and launch event will share a new recording of the WINTEX-CIMEX nuclear threat training script, intriguing the public. Local people will be trained to use archives and co-create digital outputs, progressing to form the bunker’s first cohort of volunteers. An interactive ‘Discovery’ tour will extend the bunker’s school offer to younger pupils and a new public tour will be inspired by oral histories. Milestone events a panel at the York Festival of Ideas and an immersive centenary celebration. Accessible digital records will create a legacy, keeping the ROC’s heritage in public consciousness.