Spitfire memorial unveiled in Darwen
2:00pm Monday 12th November 2012 in News
By Dan Clough, Reporter
The memorial is unveiled
A MEMORIAL to the Second World War Spitfire bought by the people of Darwen has been officially unveiled.
The model aircraft – one-twelfth the size of the real version – commemorates the huge fundraising effort in the town when £5,000 was raised by public subscription to buy the aircraft for the RAF.
The memorial has been built by apprentice engineers from the town’s metal fabrication firm WEC and taken more than two years to make.
The original Darwen Spitfire was accepted into service in 1941 and lasted about six months. It is thought to have been shot down somewhere over Holland.
The memorial was officially unveiled by MP Jake Berry in a ceremony attended by local dignitaries, Royal British Legion members and the apprentices.
Wreaths were laid at the site as part of the town's Remembrance ceremony.
Mr Berry said: “There is no greater privilege for an MP than to mark the sacrifice of the people of their town. And this is unusual as it commemorates the sacrifice of everyone in the town. It is a reminder that the war effort is not just about those who are out there fighting.”
The idea to commemorate the Spitfire was first suggested four years ago by then Darwen councillor Tony Melia, who said he was proud to see the memorial finally in place.
He said: “It looks absolutely fantastic. I can’t thank WEC boss Steve Hartley and the apprentices enough. I was very proud when I drove past and saw it in place.”
WEC’s Peter Roberts, who runs the apprentice academy, said: “I have looked after the project for more than two-and-a-half years, with 30 apprentices involved over that period.
“On behalf of all the apprentices I would like to thank everyone who turned out for the unveiling.”
Comments(13)
Roy..Darwen
says...
3:09pm Mon 12 Nov 12
useyourhead wrote:The model is brilliant. Thanks WEC and the lads who worked on it.
well done to all who worked on it, I'm sure it looks great when photographed from a decent angle!
Use your head, if you want to see it get off your arse and stop moaning.
Chris P Bacon
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4:22pm Mon 12 Nov 12
useyourhead wrote:That's been photographed from an excellent angle. The glare of sunshine off the starboard wing gives an impression of movement and action difficult to recreate from a static, dull angle. Artistic interpretation not a strong subject of yours, is it?
well done to all who worked on it, I'm sure it looks great when photographed from a decent angle!
carrman2
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4:57pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Ian the Beancounter
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6:37pm Mon 12 Nov 12
BlueSkies
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6:44pm Mon 12 Nov 12
2 for 5p
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6:51pm Mon 12 Nov 12
useyourhead wrote:Im sure it will.
well done to all who worked on it, I'm sure it looks great when photographed from a decent angle!
NOT
RUinsane
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6:55pm Mon 12 Nov 12
TrueBlue (Formerly GetRealUIdiot)
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7:05pm Mon 12 Nov 12
ste.g
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8:40pm Mon 12 Nov 12
xrayspex77
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10:24pm Mon 12 Nov 12
ste.g wrote:Lol very good!
whose gunna fly it ronnie corbett
Sir Bill Taylor
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11:29am Tue 13 Nov 12
happycyclist
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12:07pm Sat 17 Nov 12
useyourhead says...
2:28pm Mon 12 Nov 12