THE long sleep of an historic unexploded rifle grenade in Calverley Grounds ended with a bang last week, after Kent Police had to call in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) support.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) contractors working on drainage issues near the playground in the park made the discovery, and the specialist corps came out the same day.
According to a Ministry of Defence spokesperson, the team was called in from RAF Northolt in Middlesex, representing Shorncliffe Troop, 621 EOD Squadron, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search Regiment.
“The team identified a No 36 Rifle Grenade, which was safely destroyed in situ,” added the spokesperson.
A video posted by TWBC showed staff standing well back from the location of the object, on the other side of the outdoor gym, and seeing it go up in a puff of smoke.
“Nice one,” someone is heard to say.
