Information Category | 08-03-08 05:13 GMT | Posted by Ian Chicken

Chapter 1: An Account by Pip Waller

PSA has had various names starting with Air Ministry Works Department (AMWD) up till 1966 they provided technical services to all field operations at UK military bases.

Left: One of the MPBW Transport Buses

In 1966 the  Ministry of Public Buildings & Works (MPBW) was formed performin the same functions but encompassing all services of Military and Embassy locations and public buildings in the UK.

1970 brought about the Department of the Enviroment (DOE) and from within this the Property Services Agency (PSA).

It was the MPBW  that arrived on Ascension in/around 1966, when English Bay Power House Two Boats, BBC, GCHQ etc were all being constructed. There was a small element of RAF there but only spasmodic, the initial accommodation was built behind the English Bay workshops and were basic breeze block buildings.                                                           

The tour undertaken by staff was at first unaccompanied ffor an initial period of 12 Months. Over the years it became an accompanied tour, with the families living in Two Boats village with staff and families from GCHQ and BBC. These tours were for 3 years with a mid tour leave of 6 weeks in UK.

In the mid 1970's MPBW became the DOE/PSA. There were still the odd single men doing tours who lived in the Senior mess in Two Boats Village.

PSA covered all area's where British staff lived except Georgetown which was covered by Cable & Wireless staff. This was only for maintenance. PSA Power House supplied electric and water to all that was not under USA jurisdiction up to and including the Residency (The Administrator's Home) and the farm. They also had a desalination plant that supplied the fresh water to the same areas.

PSA's Head  office on the Island was in Two Boats Village and the St Helenians (Saints) who worked for PSA had single and married accommodation in Two Boats Village but neither were up to the standard of housing the British had.

Left: Travellors Hill and PSA compound (on left)

The Head of PSA was called Area Officer, he had various clerical staff, welfare, clerk, secretary, etc.
The Power House at English Bay, had the Power House superintendent in charge, there was a Professional & Technical Officer 3 M&E on day shifts with P&TO 4's engineers on shift change with the Saint's as their assistants.
There were British fitters on the engine floor with the Saint fitters and electricians. There was a Foreman Electrical and a Foreman Mechanical on days.

There was a major stores complex ran again by British with Saint assistant's.The overhead electricity supplies were in the early days maintained by a British Foreman and Saints but when the last one returned to UK (1977) the Power House staff took over the job.

Politics decreed that the BBC would take over the PSA commitments on the island so basically all the Saint staff  transferred over to the BBC. PSA's British staff, some of the fitters at the Power House were also seconded over to the BBC for a 3 year tour.
A BBC Power House Superintendent went out early in 1978 for familiarization and the BBC took over April 1978. PSA staff who were not transferring permanently to BBC were seconded  until departure April 8th 1978.

PSA & GCHQ both pulled out together on a special flight which on take off did a bomb run at low level over the runway as a salute to Ascension. (I add it scared the shit out of a lot of people).

As a post note it was found that the PSA & GCHQ operations were in fact desperately needed and so both returned after a short time. PSA/DOE (as it was by then) operated  into the 80's.

Pip was Foreman Electrician at the Power House and seconded to BBC till April 1978. He work's at RAF Fylingdales and have done except for overseas tours over 40 years. They TUPE transferred to Serco Defence in 1995 and when Serco won the contract for the new RAF camp and on line servicing etc. He was asked if he wanted to go back for the duration of the contract (8 years), He declined.