RAF100 Hudson Bomber Project

RAF100_logoOn 1 April 2018, the Royal Air Force will be celebrating its 100th birthday and as part of the celebrations, Silloth’s Mayor, Councillor Tony Markley will be unveiling a new feature on Silloth Green.

In 2014, Silloth Tourism Action Group (STAG) were allocated funds from Heritage Lottery, to tell the story of Silloth Airfield during the war years and to preserve its rich history.  To celebrate the town’s involvement in WW2 and to support Silloth’s ‘in bloom’ activities, STAG had the idea of a permanent structure based on the shape of a WW2 Hudson plane.  Cllr. Markley approached GEN2 at Workington, enquiring if their talented apprentices could include the detailed planning and construction of a stainless steel replica Hudson bomber as one of their annual projects.  GEN2 relished the request and the apprentices have successfully constructed the Hudson bomber at Workington which is to be gifted to Silloth residents.

A new raised flowerbed built by the Town Council’s grounds maintenance team is in the shape of an RAF roundel which will be planted up with colourful bedding plants in the RAF colours.  The replica plane will be sited above the flowerbed.  The flowerbed has been sited opposite the Silloth RAFA club on Petteril Street, whose members were thrilled to hear about the project.  The project has been funded with a Community Grant from Cumbria County Council and a kind donation by the family of a former aero engineer, Rex Morris, who served at 22MU Silloth during the War.