Phase One of the Northern Battle of Britain Memorial completed…

Well after eleven years, countless meetings several redesigns and the support of friends, families, designers, building suppliers, the Royal Air Force and BOB Historical Society’s, Sculptor Ian Curran, Doncaster City Council, the RAF Cadets and the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum we did it ! Phase One of The Northern Battle of Britain Memorial was completed and dedicated on Sunday May 5th 2024. Myself and my fellow Trustees owe you all a huge debt gratitude.

The “Few” who fought and died during the battle are now listed on the Memorial and we have begun to tell the story of how the North of Britain contributed to their victory.

Doncaster artist Ian Curran has created metal sculptures of a Spitfire and a Hurricane for the Northern Battle of Britain Memorial at South Yorkshire Air Museum.

Civic Mayor of Doncaster Cllr' Julie Grace and Michal Mazurek the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum.

Phase Two

We remain hopeful that before long we will be able to raise the funds to build a reproduction of a WW2 blast pen and source a replica Spitfire to mount inside it.

When this takes place the Phase One panels will be moved to the back of the pen.

Funding

In recent years we have been constantly aware that raising funds for Memorials is both difficult and contentious in the current financial climate. The Covid pandemic, the global finance crisis and the war in Ukraine means that more than ever any spare funds that are available should be used responsibly. With this in mind that we have taken this phased approach to the Northern Memorial. One day if the situation changes we are confident that we will find a sponsor or sponsors to make our plans a reality. We will then have a replica Spitfire as the focal point of a significant place of remembrance and celebration of our shared heritage. Each of the Phase One resources has been designed so that they can be moved easily to join the Spitfire as and when the later phases are completed.

Exciting times ahead !

Air Vice Marshal A.T. Johnson RAF Ret'd follows in the footsteps of the late Bill Bond MBE who created the Battle of Britain Historical Society and was one of the major figures in the building of the National Monument in London. A.V.M. Johnson, a Yorkshireman himself, has echoed Bill Bond's assertion that :-

“ ...there is an important need to give the people of the North and in particular schoolchildren the opportunity to learn about the Battle and to pay their respects to the brave youngsters known as ‘The Few’ without having to travel great distances to do so”.

Although he was only a schoolboy in 1940 he has a great knowledge and understanding of the history of the Royal Air Force and will be an incredibly valuable member of the Appeal Team.

A.V.M. Johnson qualified as a Medical Doctor in 1957 and joined the RAF shortly afterwards. His career saw him serve in the UK, Cyprus, Germany, the Far East and the United States. He served as Honorary Surgeon General to HM Queen and ended his career as Principal Medical Officer, Royal Air Force Strike Command. He is an Aviation Medicine Specialist, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He is also a musician, an accomplished sportsman, a pilot and a highly experienced free fall parachutist. We are delighted to have him on board !

Remembering The Few - Reminding the Many

BREAKING NEWS !

Air Vice Marshal A.T. Johnson RAF Ret'd becomes Patron of the Appeal.

Sheridan Smith becomes a Patron