THE big news 50 years ago in Malvern was that the town's two electronic research stations were to be merged.

TRE and RRDE will be amalgamated on September 1 to form the Radar Research Establishment, reported the Malvern Gazette.

The announcement was made in the House of Commons by Minister of Supply Duncan Sandys.

Staff at the two establishments were told the change would not mean any reduction in numbers, rather that it was likely to lead to expansion.

The Minister told the House that he had been reviewing the functions of the two bodies, one of which engaged in radar research for the Army, the other for the Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.

"As a result, I have come to the conclusion that it is desirable to integrate more closely all research activities in this field and to ensure a more rapid interchange of ideas and technical information.

"With this object, I have decided to amalgamate these two stations and so create at Malvern a combined organisation working for all three services. This will become known as the Radar Research Establishment,

Mr W Richards, who had been Chief Superintendent of the Telecommunications Research Establishment since 1946, was made director of the new establishment.

The work of TRE was described in the Gazette as a "fascinating variety of applied physics research on the radio side," which included "guided missile research, the measurement of radiation in nuclear physics, infra-red and ultrasonic techniques, and other individual tasks such as aids to medicine, astronomy, and spectrophotometry".

Meanwhile, RRDE's achievements included radars for anti-aircraft gunlaying, coast defence, searchlight direction and spotting tanks.

Both establishments came to Malvern in great secrecy during the war, and afterwards, the local council lobbied hard with the Ministry of Supply to keep them here.