(HMS ROOKE Crest)
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When I think of the very close emotional connection I have to Gibraltar it would be natural to think that (since I was based at HMS Rooke) I had a keen interest in the history of the establishment. To be really honest I didn’t back then but I do now (since writing these memoirs) and that’s largely due to a reader (William Serfaty) sharing his amazing historical knowledge with me.
(Gibraltar Naval Dockyard)
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Even up until quite recently I had forgotten how extensive HMS Rooke and the Naval dockyard was in 1976 and it wasn’t until I googled a few photos (below) that I remembered about the size of the warehouse complex within the Base. Having said that since it was our responsibility at HMS Rooke to ensure warships passing through had everything they needed it’s not surprising the storage facilities were massive particularly when a ship like HMS Hermes docked as she did in 1976.
(1976 HMS Hermes docked at Gibraltar)
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One thing I love – and that is really cool for me – (in writing these memoirs) is having readers message me with ‘their’ Gibraltar stories especially when they are from the same time I was there (1976/77). As mentioned William (Serfaty) did that and his recollections were so historically interesting and relevant to my ramblings I wanted to share them here:
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“I was also busy bringing up a family in Gib in 1976. I had a building company which was in joint venture with a Glasgow builder. Our main cooperation was on building HMS Rooke which we were completing around then.
Rooke was started early in 1969 at the junior ratings end (NORTH). On Saturday June the 9th the labour force was withdrawn. The frontier closed. It took more than a year to prepare accommodation to find a new labour force and another to bring in the necessary 5,000 people to Gib to get working again.
Consequently Rooke was quite recently completed when you arrived in the mid -70’s.
The demolition of the Old HMS Rooke was still in progress at June 69.
Built by Whatlings (Overseas) Ltd. in Joint venture with Constructors Ltd.
Whatlings was a Glasgow civil engineering firm later taken over by MacAlpine’s. It has been taken over by the Government. The plan was to move the Essential Services and Police and Fire Station there”.
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I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to William for sharing his story which (for me) really compliments these memoirs and which I hope readers also enjoyed reading. Perhaps to finish this (more historical) post I thought I’d include some data from Wikipedia:
“HMS Rooke was the naval base at Gibraltar. It was commissioned in 1946, succeeding HMS Cormorant, and operating until becoming a Joint Service Base in 1990. The Royal Navy closed the base and paid it off in 1996 and it is now headquarters for the Gibraltar Defence Police. The base is named after Admiral George Rooke who led the Anglo-Dutch Capture of Gibraltar in 1704.
(2016 Revisiting Rooke in May 2016)
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POST UPDATE:
Since publishing this post reader Sandra Capano updated me (see comments on this post) to say Rooke was currently closed? When I asked my Twitter friends if anyone knew what was going on I had an update from a follower/friend Jess on Twitter who updated me that Rooke is being handed over to @GibraltarGov to be used for Essential Services.
RockHeart 
Hi Alan,
Just came across your blog. My dad was the chief PTI at HMS Rooke from around August 76 to July 78. As a 13 year old I had a great 2 years living in Gib and can still recall so many brilliant memories from those days!
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Hi Malcolm. What a small world,it sounds like your Dad and I were both ships company at the same time! What a great age 13 to be having a couple of years in Gib, you must have been the envy of your mates back home. It really is a great place to be for young people with it’s six beaches and all sorts of other attractions – even more so now. Thanks for reading Malcolm and I,m glad my memoirs have brought back positive memories for you. Kind regards Alan
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I visited Gib in Jan/Feb 2019 and went on an old shore bases revive. Rooke was flattened early this year and a new school will be built on its site. If I knew how to put a photo on I would.
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Hi TG. I think a new school on the old Rooke site is a really nice idea to make use of the land. I’ll really look forward to seeing the completed school when it’s finished and functioning. Very happy memories of working at Rooke. Thank you for reading and commenting. Alan
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Just a quick update I was in Gib at the end of Jan beginning of Feb 2019
Rooke is no more
It was flatten just before we got there. It’s due to have a school built in its place.
I served in Rooke 89/90
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Nice one Tony! Looks like you were there about 10/12 years after me. I have really good memories of the relaxed routines we had. Although sad to know it is now flattened quite nice to know the site has been used for something really useful. Thanks for the update. Alan
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Was in Gib earlier this week, Rooke is being dismantled bit by bit. Not sure what’s going in it’s place.
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Hi Nicholas, thanks for reading. I understand from friends in Gib the Site may possibly be going to be the new police station though there are other ideas being mooted. Alan
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Interesting blog.I don’t know if you’re aware but Rooke shut down a few weeks back.Its kind of strange to walk by and see the gates shut.Lets just hope they make good use of the site.
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Good grief Sandra I didn’t know that but would like an update if you find any more information out. I hope it’s still utilised at some point or if we do lose it that it’s landscaped nicely into a useful community resource.
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