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JUNE 2025

 

Since August of 2024, my feet have literally not touched the ground.  So, if you have a few minutes to spare, I would like to update you on what has happened, some things you may not be aware of, and some things which might be of interest. 

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ANZAC REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY 2025 

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Having founded the charity in August 2024, I am delighted to say that by the end of March 2025, we were able to raise sufficient money to fund the ceremony on April 27th.  This was the first year that ANZAC REMEMBRANCE was running under its own financial steam.  Thanks to kind donations, some of which have been acknowledged on this website, we were able to pay for services provided on the day.  These services included; the amazing Harrogate Band, our professional singer Jo Dexter, the sound system, wreaths, Dave the Piper, chair hire, programmes, and of course the catering for the reception which followed. Oatlands Mount Club once again provided their room and staff at no cost and even cleared up everything at the end... including a few left over sandwiches!  It really was a fabulous afternoon. So, for all those who attended, gave their services (paid and unpaid), a big thank you from our Trustees. 

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Our aim this year is to raise as much money as possible that will allow us to build up a 'pot' of funds that will hopefully take us through the next few years. Please feel free to spread the word and the website.  I know that it's already doing the rounds somewhere in Australia and New Zealand and America. Thank you. 

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YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM

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On Monday 28th April I was absolutely delighted to be able to visit the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington. Together with my husband Richard and two of our Trustees who were present at the ANZAC ceremony, our hosts for the morning were Museum Director Jonathan Brewer and Head of Memorial and Heritage, Ian Richardson. We were taken to the memorial gardens, the beautiful chapel and then to the enormous aircraft hanger.  And that's where I stood, actually speechless for a change, beneath the enormity of the Handley Page Halifax Heavy Bomber. Standing in such close proximity and under the wings of this WW2 bomber, I attempted to imagine how Halifax pilots George Bell, Terence McKinley or John Purcivall might have felt as they took this fighting giant into the sky at such a young age and with such skill. How brave but how scared they must have felt. I was totally overwhelmed.    

 

From reading the information about the French in Stonefall under the STONEFALL CEMETERY icon, you will see that I posted a photograph of the tower at Elvington on the day that the French left the base in Halifax aircraft for their return to Bordeaux in October of 1945. I tried to take myself 80 years back in time by standing beside the same tower. In October of this year, a huge military ceremony will be held in Bordeaux to commemorate 80 years of the return of the French aviators to Bordeaux.  Read more about them by clicking this button. ...

 

 

 

The Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington is an amazing place. If ever you find yourself in North Yorkshire, a visit to the museum is an absolute must and the cakes in the 'cantine' are awesome!  Thank you Ian and Jonathan for your hospitality.  

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THE TWENTY THREE

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If you are unaware, I wrote a book about the lives and families of the 23 New Zealanders buried in Stonefall and how the war in Europe affected them all.  I started research in May of 2023, began writing in December of that year, and finished in December 2024, just before I took off for India for two months; exhausted.  The book is being handled by my agent (ex-RNZAF) in New Zealand and as of now, the manuscript has been sitting in its entirety with Penguin Random House in New Zealand since January.  We are anxiously waiting for a 'Yea or Nay'. Other than that, I have no news... apart from the fact that there is another option of a publisher down under. Any news about the book and everybody here will be the first to know.

 

 

FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE TWENTY THREE

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My greatest thrill in having created the ceremony, founded the charity and written the book, is that I have been delighted and honoured to have come across and accidentally discovered family members of four of these brave young aviators.  I am currently in touch with descendants of Charles Agnew, George Bell, Sidney Cains and Alfred Lockyer, These relatives range from nephews to great nieces and grandchildren and are spread far and wide in New Zealand, America, England, and Australia.  They have been kind enough to furnish me with personal information and private photographs of their loved ones.  What the family members tell me is that they are extremely touched and happy to know that through creating both the ceremony and the charity, (and hopefully, very soon, the book), that the sacrifice these young relatives made more than 80 years ago was not in vain. Rest assured that they are remembered as we now gather around their resting places at Stonefall Cemetery to honour them each year. 

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SCHOOLS IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

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​Over the past two years and during my research for information on the 23 New Zealanders, I have contacted a number of schools in New Zealand that the men attended in their youth.  I am delighted to have formed a relationship with Timaru Boys High School where 'Old Boy' Denis Patrick Kyne attended before he began working as a driver for N.Z. Breweries and then qualified as a pilot for the RNZAF. This year at the ANZAC ceremony, one of our Trustees laid a wreath on behalf of Timaru Boys High School to honour Denis Kyne.  Thanks Timaru.   

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FIVE BOYS FROM WELLINGTON 

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As the representative for the sister-city relationship between Harrogate and Wellington, I researched and wrote a small booklet about four of the aviators who were from Wellington.  Since writing that booklet in 2021 and whilst researching for The Twenty Three, I discovered one more Wellington aviator named Francis Edward Hothersall. With some family members of the Wellington boys asking how to obtain a copy, I have taken the time to update the written information and produce a new booklet. Unfortunately, despite exploring many different official avenues, I have no photograph of Francis.  If anybody out there has a photo of Frank (as he was called)... I would love to put a face to his name.

 

The booklet is available on the WELLINGTON & HARROGATE page, or you may go directly there by clicking the button below. 

 

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