Spitfire memorial campaign has lift-off
A HIGH-PROFILE team has been set up to turn the vision for a grand Spitfire memorial in Southampton into a reality.
The Spitfire Panel will take charge of fundraising and investigate the feasibility and design of the memorial to the great Second World War fighter aircraft.
In a major step forward for the Daily Echo's Give Us A Spitfire campaign, key players from aviation, the military, business and the media will convene for the first time next month.
The Panel
Ken Clarke: South-east area director of the Royal Air Force Association.
Trevor Graham: Director of Slipstream and Hampshire Sound
George Bromley: Acting chairman of the Southampton Spitfire Society
Jan Halliday: Director of communications at Southampton Airport.
Alan Jones: Director of the Solent Sky Museum.
Ian Murray: Editor of the Daily Echo.
Councillor John Hannides: Southampton City Council Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture.
Councillor John Hannides, who formed the group, said the pool of talent would launch a fighting fund that would span the globe.
"This is real action. For the first time a group of this type has been put together to create a proper support structure to manage the Spitfire project," he said.
"The composition of the Spitfire Panel reflects the gravity of what we are trying to achieve. It's a reflection of the fact that this is something the city council, and me personally, see as a key project for Southampton.
"From our perspective we plan to make this a national and global fundraising appeal, particularly within the Commonwealth."
One man invited to become a founding member of the group is Nursling Second World War pilot George Bromley who credits the Spitfire with saving his life.
The 84-year-old acting chairman of the Southampton Spitfire Society recently called on the city's younger generation to not neglect their heritage. "The problem we've got is that it would mean a great deal to the older generation, but the younger generation don't know too much about it and I don't think they know an awful lot about the war," he said.
"It's not glorifying the war, it's just recognising a part of the history of the town."
This newspaper's campaign was launched earlier this month after the Southampton Partnership, an unelected strategy group, decided not to spend up to £250,000 of public money on a life-size bronze replica and instead splash the cash on a controversial model of the city and 13 new welcome signs.
The group has since rejected a plea from Cllr Hannides to invest the remaining £85,000 into the Spitfire project.
Explaining the decision in a letter, Southampton Partnership chairman Ros Cassy said the memorial did not satisfy certain criteria but welcomed the new fundraising campaign.
The city council has already pledged £72,000 to the fighting fund and Cllr Hannides will now investigate if there are any funding opportunities from the public art component of the Section 106 agreement.
Under the planning agreement, the council is able to seek funding for public art projects from developers building in the city.
"We will put together a description of the Spitfire project that complies so that when there is a major development coming into the city we may benefit from contributions," Cllr Hannides said. "Everyone has their own opinion on what is public art, but in my view the memorial could be a classic and striking piece of art for the city. I also think that it would be a project developers would be very happy to contribute towards."
9:01am Monday 29th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: lucy, Soton on 4:45pm Mon 29 Oct 07
I would request that the panel all go on a fact seeking trip to Eastleigh, where there is already a spitfire on a roundabout outside of the airport. Do we really need two monuments to the spitfire? Are you going to dig it up and move it. You have to question whether tourists are likely to come off the plane and see the 1st Spitfire in Eastleigh get confused and not bother to go and see the other one.
If you want to form a panel to raise money it should be for the troops that are coming home NOW!!!
I would request that the panel all go on a fact seeking trip to Eastleigh, where there is already a spitfire on a roundabout outside of the airport. Do we really need two monuments to the spitfire? Are you going to dig it up and move it. You have to question whether tourists are likely to come off the plane and see the 1st Spitfire in Eastleigh get confused and not bother to go and see the other one.
If you want to form a panel to raise money it should be for the troops that are coming home NOW!!!
Posted by: Christoff on 5:03pm Mon 29 Oct 07
who wants to bet they totally c0ck it up?
who wants to bet they totally c0ck it up?
Posted by: banner man, hampshire on 10:25pm Mon 29 Oct 07
my verdict is the spite fire should allways have been put on the round about at chillworth so every one entering the city can see were british and ower grand farthers and ower farthers help win the war why put the model of the spitefire out side the the german garage after all the one in eastliegh is painted blue not in the right coulors of the reel spitefire
my verdict is the spite fire should allways have been put on the round about at chillworth so every one entering the city can see were british and ower grand farthers and ower farthers help win the war why put the model of the spitefire out side the the german garage after all the one in eastliegh is painted blue not in the right coulors of the reel spitefire
Posted by: george melrose, lordshill on 5:40am Tue 30 Oct 07
I agree with banner man.
Chilworth Roundabout would be much more appropriate.
Go for it John!
I agree with banner man.
Chilworth Roundabout would be much more appropriate.
Go for it John!
Posted by: hmm on 8:46am Tue 30 Oct 07
does anyone actually want this?
does anyone actually want this?
Posted by: R, Baghdad on 9:04am Tue 30 Oct 07
I agree with Lucy, Christoff and banner man. This is the Echo trying a bit of self-publicity and if it happens they will attempt to take all the credit.
Think moving the one from the airport sprucing it up a bit and then putting on the Chilworth roundabout is a great idea.
Also ‘High-profile team’ hardly, not exactly representative of Southampton community either.
Mugs
I agree with Lucy, Christoff and banner man. This is the Echo trying a bit of self-publicity and if it happens they will attempt to take all the credit.
Think moving the one from the airport sprucing it up a bit and then putting on the Chilworth roundabout is a great idea.
Also ‘High-profile team’ hardly, not exactly representative of Southampton community either.
Mugs
Posted by: May Day, Southampton on 9:01pm Tue 30 Oct 07
I think it is good that Councillor Hannides is working towards getting an appropriate Spitfire off the ground, so to speak, to honour some of the courageous people of that era.
Both my parents served in the RAF during the 2nd world war. I would often hear stories about the men based at RAF Scampton and how they actually felt before piloting the aeroplane. I heard that one of the men had a premonition that he would not return from one particular RAF operation across the English Channel. He was sadly proved right in that he was killed. I heard about how they felt, how scared some of these young men felt at times but showed amazing courage.
I also knew of someone in the 1970s who survived one of the concentration camps in Germany 1943-44, and it is too upsetting to repeat that moving account on here. I knew of people who lost many relatives during the 2nd world war.
The Spitfire is part of our heritage to remind us of that era, and symbolic of our struggle against fascism.
I am surprised about this “This newspaper's campaign was launched earlier this month after the Southampton Partnership, an unelected strategy group, decided not to spend up to £250,000 of public money on a life-size bronze replica and instead splash the cash on a controversial model of the city and 13 new welcome signs”. An unelected strategy group! Surely the residents of Southampton should be approached to elect their own strategy group,- and does this unelected ‘Strategic Partnership’ also happen to cost us anything I wonder?
What artist is charging about £250,000 for a model of the city, which I understand was going to be put behind the stairs, located in such a small area, in the Civic Centre? In that sized area a friend of mine could make you one out of matchboxes for, say, £1000 if you ask him?
I quote from the above article: “Explaining the decision in a letter, Southampton Partnership chairman Ros Cassy said the memorial did not satisfy certain criteria but welcomed the new fundraising campaign”. What ‘certain criteria’ is that then?
How much was Southampton City Council about to spend on laser beams coming out of a tower, rather than something more relevant and meaningful for the people of Southampton?
Remember the time when we recently had 5 Spitfires flying overhead in formation to commemorate the anniversary of the Spitfires. Amazingly half the city turned out to watch it in Mayflower Park!
I think it is good that Councillor Hannides is working towards getting an appropriate Spitfire off the ground, so to speak, to honour some of the courageous people of that era.
Both my parents served in the RAF during the 2nd world war. I would often hear stories about the men based at RAF Scampton and how they actually felt before piloting the aeroplane. I heard that one of the men had a premonition that he would not return from one particular RAF operation across the English Channel. He was sadly proved right in that he was killed. I heard about how they felt, how scared some of these young men felt at times but showed amazing courage.
I also knew of someone in the 1970s who survived one of the concentration camps in Germany 1943-44, and it is too upsetting to repeat that moving account on here. I knew of people who lost many relatives during the 2nd world war.
The Spitfire is part of our heritage to remind us of that era, and symbolic of our struggle against fascism.
I am surprised about this “This newspaper's campaign was launched earlier this month after the Southampton Partnership, an unelected strategy group, decided not to spend up to £250,000 of public money on a life-size bronze replica and instead splash the cash on a controversial model of the city and 13 new welcome signs”. An unelected strategy group! Surely the residents of Southampton should be approached to elect their own strategy group,- and does this unelected ‘Strategic Partnership’ also happen to cost us anything I wonder?
What artist is charging about £250,000 for a model of the city, which I understand was going to be put behind the stairs, located in such a small area, in the Civic Centre? In that sized area a friend of mine could make you one out of matchboxes for, say, £1000 if you ask him?
I quote from the above article: “Explaining the decision in a letter, Southampton Partnership chairman Ros Cassy said the memorial did not satisfy certain criteria but welcomed the new fundraising campaign”. What ‘certain criteria’ is that then?
How much was Southampton City Council about to spend on laser beams coming out of a tower, rather than something more relevant and meaningful for the people of Southampton?
Remember the time when we recently had 5 Spitfires flying overhead in formation to commemorate the anniversary of the Spitfires. Amazingly half the city turned out to watch it in Mayflower Park!
Posted by: Mike Vashisht, Southampton on 12:52am Wed 31 Oct 07
Sentiments about the Spitfire and the WOW factor have been discussed in the Echo for a while. I feel that we need to combine these various threads, that are common to the rich history of Southampton, and weave a story that takes all these key factors into account.
Key sites and major events that have been mentioned are - Southampton's green parks including the Mayflower Park, International waterfront/docks, Spitfire/History, Titanic/History.
Any monument/object/arti
fact/park, etc., only comes alive when it's interactive. When people can touch, use and feel it. Anything less then that would lead to failure. Look at London Eye, Spinaker Tower, etc, in UK. Further a field, you have Toronto Skydome, Statue of liberty, etc... List is endless.
[bold]KEY POINT IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE INTERACTIVE - USE, TOUCH, FEEL, etc...[/bold]
So, I suggest that we go for a 'London Eye' type of a wheel on the mayflower park, that is high enough for people to get a good view of Southampton during their rides. The cubicle's could be made to look like Spitfire airplanes. So you have solved many problems by one solution!
WOW factor - A structure that is Interactive, has Spitfire built into it, sits on a prime green park close to the key Waterfront site, can be seen and used by locals, and visitors coming in on the liners, etc.. - people can touch and feel it!
And, to round it of, you can upgrade the pier and put a Titanic exhibition in it, to add to that WOW factor!
What do you think? It keeps the Mayflower Park, Pier and the water frontage in public domain, and provides a world class interactive monument for all, and incorporates - Spitfire, Mayflower Park, Pier, Southampton Eye Views, and may be the Titanic as well! All the major events and places of recent history that people have been concerned and hankering about.
Mike Vashisht. Southampton.
Sentiments about the Spitfire and the WOW factor have been discussed in the Echo for a while. I feel that we need to combine these various threads, that are common to the rich history of Southampton, and weave a story that takes all these key factors into account.
Key sites and major events that have been mentioned are - Southampton's green parks including the Mayflower Park, International waterfront/docks, Spitfire/History, Titanic/History.
Any monument/object/arti
fact/park, etc., only comes alive when it's interactive. When people can touch, use and feel it. Anything less then that would lead to failure. Look at London Eye, Spinaker Tower, etc, in UK. Further a field, you have Toronto Skydome, Statue of liberty, etc... List is endless.
KEY POINT IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE INTERACTIVE - USE, TOUCH, FEEL, etc...
So, I suggest that we go for a 'London Eye' type of a wheel on the mayflower park, that is high enough for people to get a good view of Southampton during their rides. The cubicle's could be made to look like Spitfire airplanes. So you have solved many problems by one solution!
WOW factor - A structure that is Interactive, has Spitfire built into it, sits on a prime green park close to the key Waterfront site, can be seen and used by locals, and visitors coming in on the liners, etc.. - people can touch and feel it!
And, to round it of, you can upgrade the pier and put a Titanic exhibition in it, to add to that WOW factor!
What do you think? It keeps the Mayflower Park, Pier and the water frontage in public domain, and provides a world class interactive monument for all, and incorporates - Spitfire, Mayflower Park, Pier, Southampton Eye Views, and may be the Titanic as well! All the major events and places of recent history that people have been concerned and hankering about.
Mike Vashisht. Southampton.
Posted by: May Day, Southampton on 8:25am Wed 31 Oct 07
Mike, I think your idea about an interactive Spitfire wheel sounds brilliant, located in Mayflower Park. Perhaps a percentage of the money raised by the Spitfire Wheel rides could be given to some worthwhile local causes, some of which could even benefit some of the elderly residents amongst us too.
An interactive Spitfire exhibition located at an appropriate place at Southampton Airport would be interesting and fascinating too.
Mike, I think your idea about an interactive Spitfire wheel sounds brilliant, located in Mayflower Park. Perhaps a percentage of the money raised by the Spitfire Wheel rides could be given to some worthwhile local causes, some of which could even benefit some of the elderly residents amongst us too.
An interactive Spitfire exhibition located at an appropriate place at Southampton Airport would be interesting and fascinating too.
Posted by: Matthew Myatt, Eastleigh on 6:31pm Sat 19 Jan 08
[quote][bold]banner man[/bold] wrote:
my verdict is the spite fire should allways have been put on the round about at chillworth so every one entering the city can see were british and ower grand farthers and ower farthers help win the war why put the model of the spitefire out side the the german garage after all the one in eastliegh is painted blue not in the right coulors of the reel spitefire [/quote] The Spitfire on the roundabout outside the airport is there for a very good reason. Now let me educated you, as clearly you need it.. The Spitfire in Eastleigh is a replica of K5054, the FIRST Spitfire to fly, and flew from the airport on that first flight, that’s why its there, also as a replica of the first Spitfire to fly, it is painted in its first flight colours of grey/blue and if you care to look has the registration of K5054, clearly we in Eastleigh know more than you in Southampton on the subject, might be worth doing some research on the subject and perhaps you would get one of your own. This one is in the Borough of Eastleigh, and we are VERY proud to have it here. As for the comment about the German garage, if you did just a tiny bit of reading, you would know that the garage concerned gave £10,000 towards the construction of this replica as a goodwill gesture. [bold]I hate people who get on soap boxes, who then slip off them..[/bold]
banner man wrote:
my verdict is the spite fire should allways have been put on the round about at chillworth so every one entering the city can see were british and ower grand farthers and ower farthers help win the war why put the model of the spitefire out side the the german garage after all the one in eastliegh is painted blue not in the right coulors of the reel spitefire
The Spitfire on the roundabout outside the airport is there for a very good reason. Now let me educated you, as clearly you need it.. The Spitfire in Eastleigh is a replica of K5054, the FIRST Spitfire to fly, and flew from the airport on that first flight, that’s why its there, also as a replica of the first Spitfire to fly, it is painted in its first flight colours of grey/blue and if you care to look has the registration of K5054, clearly we in Eastleigh know more than you in Southampton on the subject, might be worth doing some research on the subject and perhaps you would get one of your own. This one is in the Borough of Eastleigh, and we are VERY proud to have it here. As for the comment about the German garage, if you did just a tiny bit of reading, you would know that the garage concerned gave £10,000 towards the construction of this replica as a goodwill gesture.
I hate people who get on soap boxes, who then slip off them..
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