Gordon Brown backs bid to honour Spitfire (From Daily Echo)

Bid for Spitfire monument gets PM support

11:48am Monday 23rd February 2009 in News By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

Gordon Brown backs bid to honour Spitfire with a 160ft memorial at Town Quay.

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown today re-iterated his support for a permanent monument to the Spitfire being built in Southampton.

Speaking on his visit to the city today, he said he was delighted with the progress being made towards a memorial for the iconic Supermarine fighter plane, which first took to the skies over Southampton.

Mr Brown said he had been proud to host a Downing Street reception with city MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead commemorating the Spitfire’s history.

Discussing the Spitfire as one of the city’s many famous exports, he told invited businessmen, public sector workers and community leaders at Southampton’s Cruise Terminal he has been following the developments towards a fitting tribute being built.

“I’m incredibly pleased you have chosen a site where there will be a proper memorial to the Spitfire and everything that it achieved,” he said.

Mr Brown has previously lent his backing to the Daily Echo-supported campaign for a monument to be built.

Ambitious plans for a 180-foot stainless steel sculpture are now part of proposals to transform the waterfront area around Royal Pier and Mayflower Park.

For more about the campaign to honour the Spitfire go to our new dedicated Spitfire micro-site.