News
Review of 2010
The teams season has now ended and we are about to embark on further improvements to our display ready for 2011. During the year we have travelled as far as Blyth in Northumberland and Fairford in Hampshire and we estimate that over 1,000,000 people have seen our display either on the road or at at organised event. The years has seen the team of six members working hard to raise funds for the proposed new Fighter and Bomber Command Memorial which will be situated on the Lytham St Annes Coastline. At the close of the year we have managed to raise a staggering £21,000!
This has given us a good chance to meet the balance in earley 2011 with a view to commissioning the full size replica of th Mark Vb Spitfire W3644 which will form the centre of the Memorial. At this stage I must take the opportunity to thank all those event organisers whom have looked after us so well during the year and to all those members of the public who donated so genourously to our cause. I must also thank the decesendants of Sgt Alan Lever-Ridings for their very kind donation which has given the fund a significant boost.
We will continue to update our Facebook pages through the Winter keeping you informed of future events and of the aircraft upgrades we are undertaking.
2011 Season April - October 2011
The team will be meeting during November to discuss our calendar for 2011. It is anticipated that we will start our display again in mid April 2011 and seeking to end by October. There will only be a limited number of weekends that we can commit too so organisers are urged to visit our events pages to view our terms before getting in touch to request a visit. The centrepiece of the display will again be the 1/1 full size replica Mark IX Spitfire BS435 - Lucy, as we call her will be undergoing significant upgrades during the winter with the team giving up their time in a bid to improve her ready for April.
Some of the improvements, all funded out of the volunteers own pockets, will include a cockpit upgrade allowing members of the public to sit in the cockpit and have unique photographs taken in pilots headgear. This new element of the display will be a real crowd pleaser. We are also hoping to fit X4 replica browning cannons to the Spitfire which will be fired as part of our display and combat talks!!!!! Finally navigation lights and other additional features will be upgraded to add to the realistic look of the aircraft.
The supporting exhibition trailer will also be improved during the Winter with the original Mark 11 Spitfire cockpit section being further refurbished. We are hoping to add some additional items to our static display as the years moves on and would welcome any donations of uniforms, aircraft euqipment or artefacts that membres of the public may wish to donate.The team will be available for all types of events and TV/Film related work.
Fylde Coast Museum of Aircraft Manufacturing and Aviation Heritage - Project Spotlight
One of the potential spin off's of the Memorial project is the gathering of support to help locate a new Museum of Aircraft manufacturing and Aviation Heritage on the Fylde Coast. As the team tours the UK it is seeking support for this new project, made all the more important following the recent closure of RAF Millom. The Fylde Coast has a wealth of Aviation Heritage and yet there is very little knowledge or public recognition of it on the Fylde Coast. With over 65 million people coming to Blackpool and the Fylde Coast each year the team feels that there is an opportunity to enhance to visitor offer with this new museum.
Initial dicussions have taken place with both Blackpool Airport and BAE Systems and it is hoped that the three local Councils and members of the public will get behind the principle of the new Museum. The team is currently starting to collect minor artefacts which it hopes to display during the winter at it's home base and is keen to hear from anyone who has any WW2 RAF related items which they would like to donate to a good home. Please get in touch via the contact pages or by calling John Coombes on 07967 724588.
May, 2010
We've now set up a new Facebook profile where all the latest news from The Lytham St. Annes Spitfire Memorial Fund will be published from now on.
To visit our Facebook page click here:
http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Lytham-St-Annes-Spitfire/100001057654436