News
APRIL 2023
The dedication ceremony
The RAF Newton Memorial Fund are working with East Midlands Universities' Air Squadron and 1936 (Newton) Squadron of the RAF Air Cadets to organise the dedication ceremony this spring. A mammoth task. We look forward to seeing you there.
MARCH 2022
Meet the sculptor
Here is our sculptor, the award-winning Tom Nicholls of London Stone Carving Ltd who is currently finishing a large project for a major London landmark. The next job in his busy schedule is our statue for Newton which he is looking to start very soon.
AUGUST 2021
An even bigger hooray!
The RAF Newton Memorial Fund team met Redrow Homes this month to discuss the location of the statue. Here is a photo of our full-size wooden mock-up which helped convey the size and scale within the location.
OCTOBER 2020
Another hooray!
Redrow Homes have arrived on site at Newton to start their five year project to build over 500 homes on the technical site at Newton. Our sculptor, the award-winning Tom Nicholls from London Stone Carving Ltd met the Redrow team on site to discuss the project.
JULY 2019
Hooray - a site has been located!
Since we formed in 2011, our group has come a long way with discussing various designs over the years until we reached our chosen design in 2014: the statue of the pilot and dog sitting on a stone plinth. Unfortunately, we had to put those plans on hold as we were unable to proceed until a plot of land became available. Now that Redrow Homes are planning a new housing development our project is now back on the agenda and a potential site has been located by the house-builders near the site of the former station headquarters.
JULY 2016
Bingham Business Club grant award
The Bingham Business Club presented our chairman, John North with a cheque for £200. The RAF Newton Mmeorial Fund was one of five local community groups to receive a cheque. The photo below, taken by Malcolm Sales is of the Club Chairman, Jonathan Hammond presenting our Chairman, John North with the award.
NOVEMBER 2015
Sir Roger Moore lends his support
Former Bond actor, Sir Roger Moore got to hear about how two local school-children have been involved with the memorial by making models and helping to promote it at local fairs and kindly donated a signed book for us to raise funds at a future event. Others items we have recently collected include a signed book by Sir David Jason.
FRIDAY 12th SEPTEMBER 2014
Arnhem film event
Unfortunately we have had to cancel our fund-raising event for the 20th, due to circumstances beyond our control. In short, the pub landlords left without telling anyone and when we visited a few days beforehand to check final details for our event we found a very empty pub!
SUNDAY 8th JUNE 2014
D-Day+1 event a huge success
We raised over £900 at our D-Day+1 event last night. Guests enjoyed a fish and chip supper, followed by the film OVERLORD (1975) in the small cinema. We look forward to the next event on 20th September which commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the battle of Arnhem.
THURSDAY 1st MAY 2014
D-Day+1 event launched
We started advertising our latest fund raising venture.
TUESDAY 18th MARCH 2014
Our first meeting of 2014.
We are meeting to discuss the new designs, our public consultation and various fund-raising activities.
TUESDAY 12th November 2013
Discussed new designs.
The committee met again after a summer recess and discussed three new designs.
SATURDAY 8th June 2013
Bingham Town Fair
A huge thank-you to every who supported our stall at the fair and well done to the winner from Grantham who won a model kit of Concorde in our cycling competition.
SUNDAY 5th May 2013
Lancaster Flypast
Avro Lancaster PA474 made a low pass near RAF Newton en-route to Donnington.
TUESDAY 30th April 2013
Annual General Meeting
The second Annual General Meeting was held today.
MONDAY 7th January 2012
Jozef Warchal 1916 to 2013
Our friend Jozef Warchal, a Polish fighter pilot with 303 and 304 Squadrons, who also served as an instructor at RAF Newton from 1942 to 1945 sadly passed away at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham on December 22nd 2012 at the age of 96. He followed our memorial project with great interest and will be sadly missed by all.
FRIDAY 21st December 2012
We end the year on a high
Apart from raising more funds this year, we have just caught up with a news story in the Nottingham Post that the next development phase has passed the outline planning stage and that the memorial is highlighted on the plans, which is great news - at least the project hasn't fallen off the plans!
TUESDAY 20th November 2012
Committee Meeting
We discussed potential fund-raising ideas for 2013.
TUESDAY 3rd July 2012
Annual General Meeting
We held our first AGM tonight at the HQ of 1936 Newton Sqn ATC.
SATURDAY 30th JUNE 2012
East Bridgford Show
Several committee members manned a stall at the East Bridgford Horticultural Show and sold various collectables to raise funds and awareness for the project. The highlight was a flypast by the BBMF Dakota at 2pm.
FRIDAY 18th MAY 2012
Tiger Moth Grand Draw
The winning tickets were drawn at 12 noon by Cllr Neil Clarke (centre), the Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council at David Wilson Home's 'Newton Park' Showhome which is on the site of the Airmen's Mess. Neil commented "It's a fantastic project that means the history of RAF Newton will be remembered and I am thrilled to be part of the day." Sheila of DWHs Showhome team is on the left and Tim O'Brien is right, holding the tumbler. A full list of prize-winners appears on our raffle page. Photograph by Malcolm Sales of Buttercross Photography, Bingham.
TUESDAY 24th APRIL 2012
Bingham Business Club talk
Tim O'Brien will give a talk about the RAF Newton Memorial Fund to the Bingham Business Club at their breakfast meeting at the Horse and Plough in Bingham and promote the Tiger Moth Grand Draw at the same time.
SUNDAY 22nd APRIL 2012
Radio Interview - 103 'The Eye' Community Radio Station
Tune into Melton Mowbray's community radio station, 103 the Eye at 09.15 to hear Tim O'Brien of the RAF Newton Memorial Fund take part in their Community Focus programme. You can always catch up with it via their website at www.103theeye.co.uk
TUESDAY 3rd APRIL 2012
Parish Magazine publicity
Our Tiger Moth Grand Draw features in the following parish magazines which are distributed to every household in that parish - Radcliffe LINK, Keyworth, Burton Joyce and on the Cotgrave village website.
MONDAY 2nd APRIL 2012
Nottingham Post article
The Tiger Moth Grand Draw was featured in Andy Smart's Bygones feature in today's edition.
MONDAY 2nd to MONDAY 30th APRIL
Bingham Library Exhibition
Please come and see our exhibition in Bingham Library which highlights the history of RAF Newton and the proposed memorial.
MONDAY 19th MARCH 2012
Bingham & District Audio Magazine
Tim O'Brien was interviewed today for Bingham's Audio Magazine to promote the Tiger Moth Grand Draw and the proposed memorial. The audio magazine is designed for elderly residents and those with impaired vision and restricted mobility. It is available as a CD.
THURSDAY 8th MARCH 2012
Bingham Advertiser article
The Bingham Advertiser published a large article to highlight how we have been forced to re-think our design and potential location due to a lack of communication with the planning consultants who are working on the outline planning for phase two of the next development; plus the article mentioned the Tiger Moth Grand Draw.
THURSDAY 1st MARCH 2012
Donation from Bingham Town Council
It was announced today in the Bingham Advertiser that Bingham Town Council have awarded the fund £500 as part of their community grant scheme.
THURSDAY 25th JANUARY 2012
History Talk - Elston History Society
Tim O'Brien gave a history talk about RAF Newton to the Elston (Pentagon) History Society and highlighted the proposed memorial.
FRIDAY 13th JANUARY 2012
Cutting the Ribbon
Artist and author, Tim O'Brien was invited by David Wilson Homes to cut the ribbon to the first completed road in Newton Park - Meteor Close named after the Gloster Meteor flown by 12 Group HQ Comms Flight in the 1950s. DWH made a generous donation of £100 to the memorial fund as a thank you. DWHs Sales Director, Philip Lacey (far left), Keyth Andrews (right), Tim (left) and the site manager, Kevin Richardson (far right). Photograph via DWH/Unsworth Sugden.
TUESDAY 10th JANUARY 2012
History Talk - Epperstone WI
Tim O'Brien gave one of his history talks about RAF Newton to the ladies (and a few gents) of the Epperstone branch of the Women's Institute and highlighted the proposed memorial.
CHRISTMAS 2011
Thank you everyone!
We end the year on a high by breaking the £2000 mark in pledged donations (as we have yet to receive some donations/grants), which the committee feel is a tremendous achievement since we formed seven months ago. We wish all our supporters a happy Christmas and New Year.
SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2011
Rushcliffe Local News article
Just received this free journal through the letterbox and see the A46 'Highway Hobble' features on the front and inside page giving great news coverage us.
SUNDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2011
NatWest Community Award Scheme
A big thank you to the 62 supporters who cast their vote in our favour as part of the NatWest Community Award Scheme, which had a top prize of £6000 which we would have used towards the production of the metal eagle sculpture and unit badges. Unfortunately our 62 votes were not sufficient compared to one 'inner-city' project that attracted 190+ votes. Oh well, next year perhaps we'll have more luck!
SUNDAY 16th OCTOBER 2011
Children Raise Money by Running Along the A46 Fosse Road!!!
The O'Brien family of Bingham, Notts completed their 6 mile 'Hobble' along an unopened stretch of A46 between Syerston and Farndon today. Julie O'Brien who raised the sponsorship would like to thank everyone who has already sent and those who have pledged sponsorship. Her husband and two young children took part aswell to give her support. The O'Brien's were even seen on BBC East Midlands Today who were covering the event.
MONDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2011
A46 Highway Hobble - Last Plea for Sponsorship!
On Sunday 16th October, we have a participant taking part in the sponsored 'Highway Hobble' along a newly completed 6 mile stretch of the A46 between Elston and Farndon before it opens in a few months time. She needs sponsorship - if you would like to pledge a donation, please contact us.
TUESDAY 6th SEPTEMBER 2011
Fund-Raising Talk
Another committee meeting was held after our summer break. Tonight, committee member and headteacher Chris Belton spoke about his very successful campaign to purchase a Shorts 360 aeroplane for use as an outdoor classroom at his primary school in Colwick.
THURSDAY 14th JULY 2011
Bingham Advertiser - article
A follow-up news item about the funds launch and donations is on page 7 of the Bingham Advertiser.
SATURDAY 9th JULY 2011
The Fund is Officially Launched
11.00: The showhome opened to the new 165 home housing development 'Newton Park' by David Wilson Homes and 'Poppyfields' by Bellway. C B Adcock, Group Captain (Retired), the last station commander at RAF Newton 1993 to 1995 'cut-the-ribbon' at 1100, followed with a spirited display by former EMUAS/7 AEF Chipmunk WG308 at 1200. Members of the 'RAF Newton Memorial Committee' supported an RAF Newton heritage display to discuss the memorial project with the public.
During the event, DWH/Bellway pledged a contribution to start the fund. Sid Adcock also made the very kind gesture of donating his expenses fee. Other generous members of the public also made cash donations.
FRIDAY 6th JULY 2011
Rushcliffe Local News - article
Rushcliffe Local News, the free news booklet delivered to every household in the borough was delivered today (July/Issue 99) and features an article about the memorial committee on page 4, or read online at www.nottinghamlocalnews.com
THURSDAY 5th JULY 2011
Bingham/Newark Advertiser article
An article written by Liam Kennedy appears in today’s edition on page 6 and ties in with the showhome event advertised on page 52. A photograph of trustees and helpers; Mick Walker, Janet Greasley, John North and Tim O’Brien was taken by the paper’s photographer, Marie Wilson.
WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY 2011
BBC Radio Nottingham Interview
A Memorial Fund trustee, Tim O'Brien was interviewed on the Mark Dennison afternoon show 12-4pm about the fund-raising campaign. If you missed it, you can catch up via BBC Radio Nottingham 103.8FMs seven-day listen again facility or on Mark Dennison's Facebook page.
FRIDAY 17th JUNE 2011
Our Website is Launched
The website has now been published and has been well recieved by supporters.
THURSDAY 16th JUNE 2011
Womens Royal British Legion - HISTORY TALK
RAF Newton Memorial Fund trustee and aviation artist/author, Tim O'Brien is giving an illustrated talk about the history of RAF Newton to the womens branch of the Radcliffe-on-Trent, Royal British Legion at 2pm. The talk is based on his best-selling book Last Post at Newton: the life of RAF Newton which is available through local stockists or direct from Tim.
TUESDAY 14th JUNE 2011
The Second Committee Meeting
The committee met for the second time to discuss progress with the website that is being designed by one of the committee members, while the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer completed application forms to open the RAF Newton Memorial Fund bank account with the Bingham branch of the NatWest the following day.
SATURDAY 11th JUNE 2011
The BBMF Lancaster!
At 1740 en-route back to Coningsby after displaying at various venues including Buckingham Palace, Matlock & Burton, the BBMF Lancaster made an impromptu flypast over Bingham and turned directly over RAF Newton to head back along the A52 towards Grantham.
TUESDAY 10th MAY 2011
The Committee is formed
After several months of informal discussions between six individuals who all have a personal connection with RAF Newton (mainly ex-Air Training Corps and/or had a close relative serve at Newton), decided to form the RAF Newton Memorial Committee tonight after agreeing our constitution. The venue for the meeting was the headquarters of 1936 Newton Squadron, Air Training Corps, Trenchard Close, Newton, whose OC has kindly allowed the committee to use on a non-parade night.