Bewley Hall

Situated on the outskirts of Arbroath, Angus, what is now RM [Royal Marine] Condor was originally built, in 1938, for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. It opened on 19th June 1940, and was primarily involved in the training of naval aviators. A purpose-built ‘aircraft carrier’ sized landing area was used to train aircrew in deck landing operations.

Flying ceased in 1954 and the base became the home of the Royal Navy Aircraft Engineering Training School, which had transferred from HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. This continued until 1st April 1971, when it became RM Condor, home to 45 Commando Royal Marines, part of 3 Commando Brigade.

The base is home to a number of heritage buildings. The most prominent is the now redundant three storey airfield control tower, which is Category C listed, but there is also a chapel, a gymnasium - and Bewley Hall, that used to be home to the base’s cinema.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to discover any substantive information about its cinematic life. The hall has an ‘aircraft-hanger’ design, and is presumably one of the original buildings. It was renamed Bewley Hall following the death of 19 year old Marine Neil Bewley, who was shot dead while on patrol in West Belfast on 12th August 1977. It is a very large hall, still in regular use as a multi-purpose facility.

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