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10/11th November 2007   Scale Modelworld , Telford   

15th July 2007, Falklands Memorial Weekend, Aeroventure, Doncaster

Models on the table by Steve Harper, Peter French, Peter Jefferies, Nigel Denchfield, George Munro, Steve Cox, and Janet.

30th June, RAF Waddington International Air Show

The SASIG Falklands 25 model display was at the Waddington International Air Show as part of the SAMA(North) exhibit in the Exhibition Hangar. New additions to the display were an RAF VC.10 and a BA Cargo Boeing 707 made by Steve Harper, Glyn Palmer’s Wessex HAS.3 ‘Humphrey’ and my own Landrover 1 Tonne Ambulance.  Steve and Glyn are fellow club members of mine at Brampton. To our normal models-only display I was able to add some reproduced newspaper headlines and other memorabilia from 1982.  The exhibit certainly grabbed the attention of many of the visitors to the SAMA stand, including a number of South Atlantic veterans. 

I was able to chat with RN veterans from HMS Hermes, Invincible, Fearless, Antelope, Brilliant, Exeter, Plymouth, and Bristol, and also from RFAs Sir Galahad, Sir Lancelot, and Stromness and MV Atlantic Conveyor.  There were also personnel from MV Norland.  The Royal Marines, Army and RAF were also well represented…42 Cdo, 2 Para, Field Ambulance, 1(F) Sqn RAF, 55 Sqn RAF…the list goes on…

The veterans were there to take part in a Drumhead Service to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the conflict.  The service was also attended by Baroness Thatcher and other service dignatories.  ‘They shall grow not old…’ was read by Squadron Leader Martin Withers DFC RAF, pilot of Vulcan ‘Black Buck 1’.  Prior to the Service, wreaths were laid in front of Gazelle XX411, outside the hangar, by the veterans and Lady Thatcher.  This Gazelle was shot down on the day of the landings at San Carlos Water. The aircraft crashed into the water and the pilot, Sgt Evans, was killed.  I believe that his surviving air-crewman was at the ceremony. The aircraft had recently been beautifully restored for Aeroventure in Doncaster by AAC/REME technicians at Aldergrove in Northern Ireland.

There were several other Falklands-related exhibits outside the hangar.  Aeroventure also contributed their Wessex HU.5 and Vulcan cockpit as well as the Harrier GR.3 that they currently have on loan.  The Museum of Army Flying Historic Flight brought along their Westland Scout and there was also an RAF Chinook.  On their stand SAMA displayed the Union Jack that was flying on RFA Sir Galahad when she was hit and later used to help carry casualties from the ship.  One of Galahad’s lifebelts was also on display.

In the afternoon, Baroness Thatcher took the opportunity to visit the stands in the Exhibition Hangar.  She spent some time at each stand, signing various items for individuals and groups.  At the SAMA stand she spoke quietly to several of the veterans and signed the SAMA Visitors Book and a painting of Vulcan XH558.  She spent a short time beside our model display and kindly signed our Falklands 25 sign.

Due to the wet weather much of Saturday’s flying display had to be curtailed and, sadly, the second day of the show was cancelled due to flooding on the airfield and in the car parks, and we had to pack up early and head off home.

The whole of the SAMA(North) display area

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The Plymouth Premier Model Show was held at the Guildhall on Saturday 28th April.

The Guildhall is one of the historic buildings in Plymouth’s City Centre that was severely damaged by bombing in the Second World War.  Restoration has produced a modern interior within the medieval shell, with some interesting stained glass showing scenes from Plymouth’s history.  

The organisers had arranged a special Falklands exhibit for the entrance to the main hall so the SASIG display was split between this and our own table within the hall.

New additions to the SASIG display this time out were Nigel Denchfield’s 1:600 HMS Plymouth, a much-modified Airfix leander; Peter Jefferies’ HMS Ardent’s Lynx, a modified 1:72 Airfix kit and 809 Sqn FAA Sea Harrier, the 1:72 Hasegawa kit. I contributed a Chinook ‘Bravo November’, the 1:144 Revell kit and two vehicles: a LWB Landrover and a Bedford 4 tonner, the 1:76 JB Models kits.  SIG member Peter French brought another new addition to our display, a 1:600 scratchbuilt RFA Sir Galahad.  He also brought a 1:1200 diorama of the Argentinian carrier Veinticinco de Mayo and her two escorting destroyers.

Part of the main Falklands display included several 1:600 ship models scratchbuilt from wood.  These included several RFAs and the patrol ship HMS Endurance.

Several Falklands veterans came to the SASIG table and talked about their experiences.  William Smith had served on the trawler HMS Pict (sister ship of the ill-fated Gaul), one of the 5 trawlers taken up from trade for minesweeping duties as part of the 11th Mine Countermeasures Squadron.  Doug Lewis was an engineer on the RFA Sir Bedivere.  ‘Tiny’Bennett, a Lance Corporal in 42 Commando and Bill Hutchinson a marine on board HMS Glamorgan in 1982 also paid us a visit, as did a former member of 845 NAS who served ashore in the Falkland Islands.  It was fascinating to talk to them all.  They were all very appreciative of all our efforts to commemorate the conflict.

All in all, it was another very successful show. Thanks everyone!

On the Thursday after the show, Steve and I travelled to Falmouth to visit Peter and Teresa Brierley.  Peter is the Secretary of the HMS Ardent Association. Teresa’s brother, Richie, was a PO(M) on Ardent in 1982 and he now runs the Association website.  Peter was my liaison with the Association whilst I was building the model of Ardent and was very helpful, answering my questions.  They made us very welcome and were pleased to see my model of Ardent and Peter J’s Lynx.

1st April 2007, Heritage Model Show at Aeroventure, Doncaster

   The South Atlantic SIG held it’s second major display of the year on Sunday 1st April at the Heritage Model Show, held at Aeroventure in Doncaster. Aeroventure has it’s own collection of Falklands memorabilia and also helicopters from one of the South Atlantic patrol ships. We were able to set up our Falklands memorial Display in front (rather approriately) of a Whirlwind helicopter from HMS Protector. Our display is still lacking aircraft and vehicles but many are in-build and should be ready for future shows. I was able to meet up with three SIG members, Anton Burrows, Martin Johnston and Trevor Williams, all of whom will be contributing aircraft models to the display later this year. I was also able to chat with Peter Cobb from SAMA (South Atlantic Medal Association) North who is organising the commemorative events at RAF Waddington on June 30th/July 1st.

Our display got considerable interest again and several visitors mentioned their own memories of the conflict. TV and newspaper coverage of the 25th Anniversary has now begun and interest is growing. At the end of the show the organisers, Dee and Martin, announced the winner of the George Read Trophy for the best model in the show. Twisting the rules a little the judges gave the trophy to more than one model…they awarded it to the South Atlantic SIG for our Falklands display!! I was very surprised but delighted, especially for all the modellers who had contributed to the display in addition to myself; Nigel Denchfield, Peter French, George Munro, Nick Greenall not forgetting my ‘other half’ Steve. I didn’t even realise that the competition was taking place. 

We had another very successful show and, through SAMA, the possibility of more displays over the summer. Well done everyone! 

As a postcript, Steve and I spent several days holiday in Yorkshire after the show. On Wednesday April 4th we visited the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York. Unknown to us the museum’s Falklands 25th Anniversary Exhibition was being officially opened that day and we were delighted to be able to chat to several Falklands veterans, including: Sqn Ldr(ret) Tony Harper, a Flt Lt in No.1[F] Sqn RAF flying Harrier GR.3’s in 1982; Sqn Ldr(ret) Andy Tomalin, Victor K.2 tanker pilot, ‘Red 2’ on the ‘Black Buck 1’ raid; Dave Brown of 2 Para, now chairman of SAMA(North); and Steve Dale from Commando Signals. The Falklands exhibition consists of a Harrier GR.3, a Scorpion CVR(T), a captured Argentine Mirage III and Tiger Cat missile unit.

   

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10th February 2007 Yeovilton Air Museum

The SIG exhibited at its first show of this important Falklands 25th Anniversary year…the Fleet Air Arm Show at Yeovilton. The show was a great success for us and the SIG’s Falklands Memorial display got lots of attention and some really nice comments from visitors.

The Museum staff were very helpful and arranged for us to set up our display in front of some of the maps and photos that make up their own Falklands Conflict exhibit.

Models on the table by Peter French, Nigel Denchfield, Nick Greenall, Sam Bratby, and myself. The SIG was able to display models of 11 of the ships that took part in the conflict: HMS Ardent, Antelope, Arrow, Brilliant, Broadsword, Sheffield, Coventry, Exeter, Invincible, Intrepid and Yarmouth.  The Sea Harrier and Harrier were also represented along with my Scorpion and 105mm gun.  We also had a small Argentine display made up of a 1/72 Argentine Army Iroquois and a 1/600 scale model of the submarine Santa Fe.

 The relief map on the wall behind the stand is the one used by the BBC during broadcasts to show the locations on the Falklands.

  It was very rewarding to meet the several Falkland veterans who came up to the SIG table and I was able to chat with them about the conflict and our display.  They were clearly most appreciative of our efforts on their behalf.  There is still a feeling out there that the conflict has been overshadowed by the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003 and that they haven’t had the recognition they deserve.  The ship models in particular attracted the attention of several photographers.

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EVENTS  2 0 0 6

The final version of the display at SMW 2006, with contributions from Kevin Parsons, Nigel Denchfield and Stu Fone

Initial set-up at SMW 2006, just two weeks after the formation of the SIG.

The Brampton Scale Model Club table at the Fenland and Spalding Show – "Wings & Things" 17 Sept 06. At the near end of the table is a pre-SIG display, with introductory notes and a sign-up sheet.

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