Matt tells the Grafton Underwood story
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
MVs at Classic Stony New year's Day meet
********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Roger's Road Run is back!
Roger's Road Run will be on Sunday, January 19, starting at the Red Lion Truck Stop, near Junction 16 of the M1 (NN7 4DE), the same venue as last year. Roger Higgerson will lead the way at 1030-ish but why not get there early and have some breakfast? The route is a closely-guarded secret but last January's soup is being warmed up as I write......
There is a width restriction of 9ft 9ins and a height restriction of 12ft 9ins. A late lunch is available for those who need it.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Big bang surprise at Remembrance Road Run
There was a bumper turnout of MVs for our Remembrance Day Road Run on November 10. After bacon butties at John Underwood’s house at East Carlton, we headed for Weldon for the traditional Remembrance service by the town’s memorial. Other groups joined us, making an impressive display of around 30 vehicles. John laid a wreath of behalf of past, present, and future members of the SE Midlands Area.
Then it was off to Deenethorpe Airfield where Tim Webster had laid on a surprise … an ex-Czech T55 tank, owned by Neil Whatling, which fired a couple of ear-splitting rounds. We were then led by the land owner around the perimeter track before setting off across Northants, Leics and Rutland before a late lunch back at East Carlton. Many thanks to John and Judith Underwood and their team and Tim Webster for organising another great day.
***************************************************************************************************************************************************
We're going on a bear hunt - Sywell talk
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Selling poppies for the Legion
This year for poppy selling, we decided to spread our efforts over a wider area, instead of concentrating on Northampton town centre. Above and below are members at the Riverside shopping area, Dobbies Garden Centre (Harlestone Firs) and Kettering town centre. Kevin Lamberth writes: "Poppy Appeal Riverside
figures are in and are as follows: Steve Myles £76.09 and £86.28, total £162.37; Ian £91.38 and £65.72, total £157.10; Brian £60.26 and £53.68, total £113.94; Kevin £132.40 and £145.58, total £277.98; Neil total £21.74; Richard total £51.78; Roy Shakeshaft total £107.45; Guy Voice total £89.49; John Green £121.72 and £171.89, total £293.61. Money raised by the Riverside MVT team £1,275.46, an outstanding effort by all. Well done gents. John Green, although not a MVT member, was quite happy to raise some funds with the MVT at Riverside.
MVT members Heather Bailey, Clara Carlos, Kyle Carlos, ably supported by Charlie the Border Collie, and less ably supported by Penny the sleepy Greyhound, took up station on the Old Market in Kettering, parking in what little sunlight we could find to keep the frost off Luna the staff car. After a great day talking to the public and ex-service personal as well as the cadets leaders, we raised a total of £170.44. However, we had more than that but ran out of space in our tin and had to add it to one of the cadets pots and filled a third of theirs with our spare change!
Proceeds of knitted poppies were handed over to members at Dobbies Garden Centre, Harlestone Firs, Northampton.
Judith Worth and her daughter Susan Northover, from Kingsthorpe, Northampton, raised £56.50 from the woolly wonders. Pictured are are Judith Worth, Susan Northover, Lewis Northover and Tim Cross from the MVT.
And earlier at Weldon
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Woodend Memorial service 06-10-19
On October 11, 1944, the war came to the sleepy hamlet of Woodend, near Blakesley, South Northants, when three Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in bad weather while on a training exercise. One made it back to its base but the other two broke up, scattering debris over miles of countryside. The main part of B-17 “Stingy” crashed in a meadow at Woodend and became the subject of a successful dig by our friends at Sywell Aviation Museum. Later, a roadside memorial was erected near the crash site.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the tragedy, a service was held at the memorial and the names of 11 American airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice were read out. We were proud to provide some MVs at the event; four Jeeps, a Fordson WOT1 and a Land Rover Pulse Ambulance.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Thurleigh Museum open day 29-09-19
We enjoyed a really successful day at the 306th Bombardment Museum in spite of the rather drab weather. We had a good assembly of 15 military vehicles, some from the SEM but others from far and wide. We estimate 200 visitors came, many for the first time, to this famous airfield and museum. It was a normal opening day with stepped up catering with plenty of home-made cake. A great atmosphere with many enthusiasts and time to stand and chat. Thanks to everyone who attended.
Richard Hall
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Grafton Underwood reunion 21-09-19
A fleet of 19 MVs answered the call to honour Eighth Air Force veterans and their families who visited the former B-17 Flying Fortress airfield at Grafton Underwood, Northants. There were just three bomber veterans making perhaps their last trip to their old base but they were supported by a coachload of relatives of other veterans who are no longer with us.
The current US base at nearby RAF Molesworth provided an impressive colour guard at a ceremony at the roadside memorial and a dozen or so other serving US forces also attended in uniform. After a service with both the UK and USA National Anthems, the visitors were treated to lunch at Grafton Underwood Village Hall before being taken on a tour of the airfield in Jeeps, GMC lorry, Dodge Weapons Carrier, a Land Rover Lightweight … and a Russian UAZ!
Pictures and report by Peter Clarke
More pictures by Kevin Lamberth and Vaughn Glynn
