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This was one of the only rooms in the bunker, a strange hollowed out space, which was also the most northerly
part of the tunnels. The Optical Factory alteration plans called it a Sick Bay. Possible - but it could’ve
also been the Canteen, which was supposed to be located to the east of the tunnels, but was never built.
Offkilter had also joined our party, interested to see both the tunnels and
Cane Hill hospital again. He also
explored Cane Hill the
same dank, dark December day I had the previous year (I missed him to travel on
down to the
CRX, and also missed him getting attacked by an owl in the hospital itself!)
The roof is also concreted - this was an alteration required by
Optical Factory.
From the optical factory literature: "The chamber at the North end of the first transverse tunnel
is 30 feet long, 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. The large polishing machine, capable of dealing with mirrors up to 80 inches diameter, is situated
in this chamber".
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"Came across this picture I have been meaning to find, save and keep.
Looking at Dad and the diary he kept at the time, this would would have been
taken between mid 1967 and early 1968. I am still working on the names for
the gentlemen left and middle but Dad is on the right. Quite strange how
very similar we look as he is around the same age as me in this picture - 30
or 31."
"This shot is taken with them standing on the corner of the passage and that
rectangular room at the end of the left-right passage. The camera man is
standing with his back facing the main front to back passage, so when you
come in to the tunnels, round the dog leg, the first turning on the right
leads you to this point. That is where we found the polyethene-clead walls
and cubbies which you can make out in the pics is covering the ceiling at
that point. Cut out of the picture would be the circulr ventilation cut out
in the brickwork. You can just make out the archway into thayt rectangular
room - which is where the polishing machines for the mirrors where."
"They must have been working on the main secondary mirror at this stage. The
small lathe on the right would have been to cut the screw-threads for the
finder and ra/dec points on the telescopes. Have also found some standard 8
cine film of them working down there - very good. Am now awaiting info on a
company who can put it on dvd for us, then I can send you a copy." - Laurence
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