Seasons Greetings 2015

Transcription

1 Seasons Greetings 2015 The Sunderland Trust Team and everyone connected with the Heritage Centre and all its many facets extends warm seasonal greetings to all our Friends and Supporters, wherever you are located. The support you give us is so important as we continue to develop this unique project with such worldwide connections. If you are able to visit us in 2016 we look forward very much to welcoming you. With our grateful thanks to you all. Books Mark T9044 Anniversary: It is now 75 years since Sunderland T9044 sank in a gale off and was lost for decades before being rediscovered by divers. Since then this remarkable survivor, the only Mark I Sunderland left in the world, has played a central role in developing highly praised heritage attractions in PD - from the UK s first Flying Boat Interpretation Centre to today s Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre in the Royal Dockyard Chapel. The enduring tale of T9044 and its role in history is now being told in two new books, aimed at very difference audiences, both written by members of the Sunderland Trust Team. Enter Pembroke Duck: T9044 is starring in a children s book - entitled Pembroke Duck and the Missing Flying Boat - written by Trust Volunteer Sue Clarkson from ideas and characters created by Eleanor Evans, who worked for the Trust for nearly three years. Central character is Wing Commander Pembroke Duck, joined by friends Sebastian Swan, Pearl the Pigeon and Ralph the Dockyard Rat. (Continued next page...)

2 Pembroke 'Duck' cont... Eleanor s ideas were sparked by cartoons of Pembroke Duck by Dr Arthur Banks, a gifted artist who served on flying boat units in wartime. The four animal characters get much involved in T9044 s disappearance. The book - published by the Sunderland Trust - has been supported by Dragon LNG, one of Milford Haven s major energy companies, with the design by Amanda Griffiths. A5 sized, it runs to pages, and costs just 5. Enter T9044: Sunderland Survivor: Sunderland Survivor: John Evans, Project Manager from the Trust s creation in 2007, has written T9044 s story to mark the 75th anniversary. Entitled T9044: Sunderland Survivor John charts T9044 s career with 210 Squadron, operational and non-operational flights, and many of the characters who flew it from PD and Oban, including the Trust s first Patron, Wing Commander Derek Martin. The big storm of November, when T9044 and a second Sunderland sank, is recalled and there are chapters detailing the discovery of T9044 after many years, then the recovery of so many of its treasures and how T9044 has become the catalyst for unique and exciting heritage projects in. T9044: Sunderland Survivor joins John s other books on Sunderlands and flying boat squadrons under his Paterchurch imprint. The book, size 210mm x 210mm, runs to 68 pages and costs The sale of both books benefits the Sunderland Trust and the Heritage Centre. They can be ordered through the website, by ing or by phoning Changing Roles The Heritage Centre has closed for December and January and when it reopens early in 2016 it will be with a revised staffing structure and ever more involvement and lead from its large team of dedicated and skilled Volunteers. With grant aid continuing to reduce for organisations like the Trust it is looking to, and receiving, terrific support from its Volunteer Team who will take on additional roles in the running of the Heritage Centre - which features the impressive flying boat workshop, artefacts and interpretation panels. The Sunderland Trust has nearly 100 Volunteers involved in its many areas of work - including centre manning; coffee shop; conservation and workshop; archive and interpretation; education and oral history programmes, and several volunteers are also skilled modelmakers. A Volunteer Committee has been formed to work with remaining staff and the trustees to develop new exhibits and events for Further details will be given in Webfooter No 25 in the spring. Our opening hours for the 2016 season will also be announced shortly. AGM Changes At the annual meeting two of the team who piloted the Sunderland Trust to impressive heritage heights stood down from their positions. After nine years both Chairman William McNamara and Trust Secretary John Evans retired, but continue in supporting roles. New Chairman is retired history teacher and education administrator Gareth Mills while new Trust Secretary is Marcia Heaviside. William and John, along with Trustees Martin Cavaney and Steve Thompson, established the Sunderland Trust in 2006 and in 2009 opened the UK s only Flying Boat Centre and Workshop which attracted over 30,000 visitors in five years and recruited an army of volunteers. This success led ultimately to the Heritage Centre, officially opened by The Queen in April William McNamara continues as a Trustee, concentrating on fundraising and promotion of special projects. John Evans now works part-time on special initiatives, interpretation and archiving. He accepted an invitation to become Trust Patron, succeeding the late Wing Commander Derek Martin.

3 Partnership with RAF Museum The Royal Air Force Museum and the Sunderland Trust have signed up for an exciting partnership. At the Hendon Museum a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed for the two organisations. The MOU sees the RAF Museum and Sunderland Trust establishing a partnership to foster the interests of both parties through collaborative programmes and events. It will also offer professional development for staff, apprentices and volunteers and develop opportunities for complementary fundraising. RAFM Chief Executive Maggie Appleton said: As a national museum we see it as our responsibility to share our expertise and experience with other organisations and also look forward to learning from them. This arrangement will enable staff from both organisations to develop relationships as well as provide a substantial legacy for our respective local communities. Cosford Conservation Visit As a direct follow up to the new partnership Sunderland Trust Volunteers had an exclusive behindthe-scenes insight into conservation projects at RAF Museum Cosford. With the Museum s Darren Priday as guide they had access to the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre and saw major work underway on Wellington and Hampden bombers and the unique German Dornier Do17 recovered from the sea in The Dornier project has many similarities and challenges with the Trust s conservation of parts from Sunderland T9044. For Volunteer Alan Porter the visit brought back memories of his RAF training which at RAF Cosford in the 1950s. Subsequently, his first posting was to RAF - working on Sunderlands.

4 Cockpit Recreated Sunderland flying boats will soon be taking off and landing in the Milford Haven Waterway - thanks to a unique project at the Heritage Centre funded through the Ministry of Defence Community Covenant programme. Measuring over five metres long, a Sunderland cockpit is being recreated with positions for two pilots and other crew. It will be accessible for wheelchair users. Three large TV screens feature Sunderland take-off and landing sequences around the Haven Waterway - the flying sequences created by Volunteers Ron Boreham and Graham Clarkson. Leading the construction crew is Volunteer Rik Saldanha helped by Mike James, Colin Evans and other volunteers. The RAF s Senior Officer in Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams, had a preview of the project when visiting the Centre. He said: This will be a great addition to what the Heritage Centre offers, not least because it will help to bring to life what flying and operating in a Sunderland might have been like during the Second World War.

5 Remembering a Catalina Crew A Catalina airman and his 209 Squadron crew colleagues have been especially remembered, thanks to the Sunderland Trust Dive Group. They arranged for Roger Penrose to reach the area where his father, Flight Sergeant Hubert Penrose, was killed when his Catalina flying boat crashed 74 years earlier. Roger, 76, was just two on a fateful day in December 1941 when the Catalina accident happened, killing nine of the 11-man crew. PDST Dive Group members David Pring and Rik Saldanha along with Gill Saldanha researched the tragedy and were able to pinpoint the location of the aircraft, now a war grave. Two boats carrying Roger and members of his family arrived over the crash site and Roger gently placed a wreath upon the water. Roger and family members visited the Heritage Centre which has Catalina models, photographs and information on display. Coffee Shop Tea-nagers During the busy summer holiday period it was service with special smiles at the Heritage Centre s Coffee Shop - thanks to the Two Hollies. Teenagers Holly Kenniford and Hollie Wiggins joined the Centre s Volunteer Team and helped keep the coffees and teas flowing during a very busy summer season. Hollie attends Pembroke School while Holly is a pupil at Ysgol y Preseli, Crymych. Both have returned to the sixth form after gaining their GCSEs.

6 Joining The Archive Crew Aled Lewis joined the Trust in September for five months to help get the Archive up to Museum Accreditation Standard. Now very much part of the team, he reflects: Before joining as the new Archive Projects Officer I had been an Archive Volunteer since As I live 100 miles east of PD in Caerphilly Borough I was not able to volunteer on a regular basis. I came down west for a straight week every season - each time ready and raring for a hefty amount of scanning and photoshopping images. When I began as a volunteer I was mid-way through my undergraduate History Degree and I had to do some work experience to qualify for my final year. I am passionate about aviation and aviation history, so I thought I d look for an aviation museum in Wales. I did not know much about flying boats, but I am definitely hooked now and the Sunderland has crept up in my favourite list of aircraft. Two of my favourite achievements whilst a volunteer are: I found out what happened to the Sunderland which landed on Angle Airfield in May The fuselage was moved by road to become a simulator for Flight Engineer trainees at RAF St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. And while searching 210 Squadron s flight logs and individual aircraft flight logs I found a reference which identified T9044 s squadron letter as F for Freddie. Both instances were found by accident whilst researching for my History undergraduate and my Masters in Care of Collections dissertations. Nonetheless they have contributed considerably to the story of PD flying boats. Completing my MSc Care of Collections allows me to be a qualified Preventative Conserver - in other words, I take measures to prevent object damage from occurring, as opposed to repairing damage. Some of my skills include insect pest management, the effects of humidity or light on objects, conservation cleaning of objects, safe packing and handling techniques. My knowledge will hopefully help the Trust towards gaining Museum Accreditation. Research Guide Launched Help is at hand for family researchers seeking information on their military connections, thanks to a long distance Sunderland Trust Volunteer. (Continued next Page...)

7 Research Guide Launched Help is at hand for family researchers seeking information on their military connections, thanks to a long distance Sunderland Trust Volunteer. Ian Macrae, who lives near the National Archives at Kew, west London, has compiled A Guide For Researchers, available at the Heritage Centre and through our website. heritage projects prompt many requests for information about individuals and families connected with the town and area, said Ian. Many of these requests relate to the maritime, military and aviation connections locally. Since moving into the Heritage Centre last year we are getting more and more enquiries, some from as far as Australia. This guide has been drawn up to help many more families discover their military links. The guide is split into sections covering all three Armed Services, the Merchant Navy and the Pembroke Royal Dockyard and is packed with useful facts on sources of information, websites and archive locations. It has a First Steps section which will assist newcomers to overcome what may appear to be daunting research hurdles, and can be updated easily as addresses change and other sources emerge. The new guide can be purchased at the Heritage Centre and through the website. At 6.50 (plus postage) it is worth every research penny! Wartime Anniversaries There were various themes throughout the year to mark special anniversaries. Seventy-five years on from a dramatic and tragic period in s wartime story, the Sunderland Trust co-ordinated events to mark the anniversary of the Luftwaffe attack on the Admiralty Oil Tanks at Llanreath, to the west of the town. Firemen of the present and family members of firemen from the past joined with community representatives to remember momentous events following the raid on 19th August The site of the oil tanks is now the South Pembrokeshire Golf Club s 18 hole course. The blaze continued for 18 days, destroying 11 of the 17 tanks and 33 million gallons of oil. It was the largest fire seen in the UK since the Great Fire of London in 1666 and cost the lives of five Cardiff firemen. Many of the guests visited the Heritage Centre to see special displays. The following weekend Fire Station personnel staged a major event in the grounds of the Heritage Centre.

8 Battle Of The Atlantic A major focus throughout the main season at the Heritage Centre was the Battle of the Atlantic - on the part played by and its flying boats and on the Milford Haven Waterway which was a major convoy and warship port. Part of yard also repaired Royal Navy vessels. Royal Navy and RAF veterans were among the honoured guests. Pictured left to right: Volunteer Duncan Heys (HMS Burnham), Volunteer Ron Boreham (230 Squadron); Ron Currell (201 and 270 Squadrons), PDST Chairman Gareth Mills; John Cairns, Chairman, Coastal Command and Maritime Air Association, and Gerry Price (Atlantic and Arctic convoys). A Missing Dressing Gown! T9044 s disappearance in November 1940 was also subject of a special display which included a dressing gown! The pilot who flew T9044 on most operations was Norman Chapman. When visiting in 2012 his daughter, Christine, recalled a family story that when T9044 sank her father s suitcase was lost. It included a silk dressing gown, a wedding gift from Norman s wife. A Sunderland suitcase with wartime artefacts and a silk dressing gown were among the display items. Maybe one day T9044 may give up another of its secrets - Norman s suitcase and dressing gown! The Derek Martin Fellowship - Join Us On A Journey Derek Martin, aged 19, after gaining his RAF Wings, and with historian Dan Snow at Pembroke Dock in We acknowledge with deep gratitude the many individuals who have signed up under the Fellowship membership categories and invite anyone wishing to support our work and unique project to join this growing number. The Derek Martin Fellowship carries the name of the Trust s former Patron, Wing Commander Derek Martin, who died in 2014 aged 94. A wartime flying boat pilot with a very distinguished RAF career, Wing Commander Martin flew Sunderland T9044, the actual aircraft which in November 1940 sank off. Derek was a massive supporter of the Sunderland Trust and its heritage initiatives and his legacy lives on through the Fellowship funding. This will continue to contribute to the recovery of much more of T9044 from the Haven Waterway and to the interpretation of the Sunderland flying boat and the crucial Battle of the Atlantic campaign of World War II.

9 Facebook Feedback Facebook report: The Sunderland Trust Facebook page is growing each day! We have recently hit a milestone of 100 page likes! If you haven t already, click like on our page. We like to use Facebook to keep in touch with our supporters and visitors. We give them the opportunity to keep up to date with our latest news and events. We also give away prizes which are also available to purchase on our website. If Facebook isn t for you, follow us on Twitter! We are fairly new to Twitter but almost have 250 followers. We are forever updating our social media pages and always look forward to hearing your stories and experiences. If you have visited the Heritage Centre, tell us all about your visit and keep in touch! Facebook.com/Sunderlandtrust Twitter.com/PD_Heritage T9044 Tax Disc In the UK at least there is now no such thing as a tax disc for a car so the Sunderland Trust has created one for that all-important circular space on the windscreen. Find your disc included with the Newsletter and promote us in this novel way! Books and Magazines Our Pre-Loved Books section at the Centre continues to be very popular, helping raise considerable funds through the sales of unwanted books. Copies of aviation magazines - duplicates of those in our archive - are also sold. If you have books - on aviation, maritime or military subjects - which are not required, please consider donating them to us. They may be important additions to our rapidly growing library archive, or we can sell them to raise funds. Unwanted aviation, military and maritime magazines are welcomed. If you can help please contact us on or Legacy Giving Leaving a Legacy or a Donation is a very special way to support the Trust s work. To find out more about Legacies and Donations we have a document which provides further information. This is available on our website: /legacy-giving and also available by post on request. Please contact us on or write to us. Friends Greetings to all our Friends worldwide who really spread the word. We depend on you, not just for your contributions of time and stories to our archive, but also donations of artefacts to our collection, and supporting us and following our story. As ever grateful thanks are extended to you all. If you know anybody that would like to be kept up-to-date with our story, please do encourage them to support us by purchasing a subscription and becoming a Friend, Member or Fellow - this really does make a difference to us. Phone us on , on or head to our website;.

10 T9044 Tax Disc Cut out the disc below and display it in your tax disc holder. SA72 6WS