Station Commander Peter Rochelle. Picture: Matthew Usher.

Gp Capt Peter ‘Rocky’ Rochelle hands over to Gp Capt David Cooper.

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RAF Marham’s station commander leaves on Monday with the base having won the battle to remain open but facing another to secure its long-term future.

Gp Capt Peter ‘Rocky’ Rochelle is handing over the reins secure in the knowledge that Marham will remain as an RAF base for as long as Tornados continue flying. But the next fight is to ensure the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jet will be stationed in Norfolk to keep Marham as an operational frontline home for generations to come.

A decision is expected to be announced by the government in the spring on the location chosen for the JSF and RAF Marham’s new boss, Gp Capt David Cooper will be at the helm.

He comes to the county from RAF headquarters in High Wycombe.

His predecessor has faced a busy time during two years of command with personnel from Norfolk involved in operations around the world - including the recently ended campaign in Libya to protect rebel forces.

The final crew members returned to Marham earlier this month and Gp Capt Rochelle was on hand to welcome them and pay tribute to their hard work and dedication.

Personnel from Marham have also been involved in operations in Afghanistan and the base also said farewell to XIII Squadron which was disbanded earlier this year because of cutbacks across the Ministry of Defence.

Gp Capt Rochelle said that Norfolk’s support for its military personnel had been “humbling” and he praised the county for its determination to keep Marham open.

“I have had a fantastic time at Marham and there is a very symbiotic relationship with the community,” he said earlier this year.

He said that if all the base personnel and their families were in Marham at one time it would be the third-largest town in West Norfolk behind King’s Lynn and Downham Market with around 10,000 people in total.

“The support we have received has, in many ways, been humbling,” he added.

He said there was a “small cheer” among personnel at the announcement in July that the base was to remain the home of the Tornado. There had been fears it may close and the fleet transfer to Lossiemouth in Scotland.

But Gp Capt Rochelle said no-one at the Norfolk base really believed it would close.

“We were all quietly confident about Marham’s future here.” he said.

He will be returning to the classroom and is heading to the Joint Services Staff and Command College at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire.

He will be undertaking a higher command course before an as yet unknown posting.

He took over command of the base two years ago, the first time he has been stationed in Norfolk.

But he said he hoped to come back on family holidays as he loves the county and has enjoyed his time at Marham.

“I love the area and the people who are very supportive of the military and quite traditional in many ways with a very strong community focus,” he said.