Anyone from 1985 who woke up today after a 40 year slumber might be forgiven for thinking the Cold War had never ended.

In recent years we’ve had a more than a few nuclear warnings from Moscow, defence spending is being increased to counter a growing threat from the east, and that’s before we mention certain international leaders.

So it all seemed rather fitting to find a cutting about cruise missile deployment on Longmoor when we took a gander at the East Hampshire Post from 40 years ago.

While their presence never quite reached the levels shown at Greenham Common, CND protesters weren’t happy with activities on the military site between Liss, Greatham and Whitehill.

Nor were some Greatham residents – but not for reasons you might think.

While some villagers like Shelagh Lawrence spoke of the “distress caused to her children” by early morning Cruise missile deployment on Longmoor, others like Roger Pickard seemed more concerned about the protesters.

“I saw several van loads of CND parked in private property at the Silver Birch,” said Mr Pickard in namechecking the long-closed and demolished village pub.

“The CND protesters were making more noise and nuisance than the military and police. People who move into this area must know it is a military area.”

And he wasn’t alone as Mr Ray Flack also took Roger’s side in a letter to Greatham Parish Council.

He wrote: “But for the CND protesters everything would have been quiet.”

Similar activities took place at Longmoor throughout the winter months with a large demonstration taking place in November 1984 during the transportation of missiles to the site.

There were claims that Hampshire Police detained some protestors in a pit at the firing range between November 15 and 20, although the chief constable at the time refuted the claim to the government.