EXCITING times lie ahead at RAF Odiham, with tens of millions of pounds expected to be pumped into the base over the next decade.

That’s according to outgoing station commander Steve Shell, who said the Ministry of Defence will embark on an ambitious modernisation programme in addition to the delivery of 14 new Chinooks.

Group Captain Shell, who has been in charge for the last two years, left his role last week to take up a new position at the Commander-in-Chief’s offices at RAF High Wycombe.

With major cutbacks across the defence department, Group Capt Shell said Odiham is in a privileged position. He told The Gazette: “There is a plan to invest in the base and, with 14 additional Chinooks coming here, the future is brighter than it has been for the last couple of decades.”

He said the improvement will include better buildings, living quarters and offices and make up for the 12 years of planning blight while the station was under review by the Ministry of Defence, along with RAF Benson.

He said: “Odiham is secure as the future home of the Chinook force and there is a significant amount of money to rebuild and revitalise the base.”

Crews from RAF Odiham have played an important role in military operations in Afghanistan, most notably as part of the Immediate Response Team (IRT) rescuing injured servicemen from firefights.

Group Capt Shell said: “We are fiercely proud of our role in Afghanistan. It is relative youngsters doing an extraordinarily brave role. But I am not just referring to the air crews – it includes engineers and support people who deploy to theatre. They are all similarly courageous, as are the people back home.”

Group Capt Shell added he expects crews to remain out in Afghanistan longer than other service personnel, with troops withdrawing from 2014.

He also thanked the people of Odiham for their support and paid tribute to the “special” relationship between servicemen and residents, adding: “The highlight of my job has been sharing extraordinary events with extraordinary people. As far as I am concerned, there are no low points – this is the best job in the world.”

Group Capt Shell has handed control of the base to Group Captain Dom Toriati, who spent eight years as a pilot at Odiham in the 1990s.

The 43-year-old said: “It is a very exciting time to come to Odiham. The base has played a hugely important role in Afghanistan and everybody at the station has a role to play in delivering that.

“It is a base that has got an investment programme and new aircraft coming to it. It is difficult not to be excited for what has rightly been described as the best job in the world.”