BARNOLDSWICK EVENTS IN 2015

[Thomo]

The events held here in Barnoldswick over the course of a year are fairly well established and popular now. Much hard work is done by the members of various groups and local Councillors driven by the community spirit that makes this Town what it is. Good use is made of the Town Square and its surroundings; it has become not just a feature of Barnoldswick, but an important setting for a varied selection of events, displays and gatherings. One of these is the Barnoldswick Heritage Weekend in September, and it has been my privilege for a couple of years to be a part of this.
This year, a part of this event will be structured around two anniversaries, the end of World War Two, 70 years, and the arrival in Barnoldswick of what is now known as “Aerospace” 75 years.
Rolls Royce Heritage Trust is keen to take part and is looking at what they can do to help by way of a ground display. Their Spitfire MK XIX, which we last saw here in September 2013, is already “pencilled in” for another visit on the weekend of this next event. When asking people what they would like to see by way of flight attendance, the top of the list was the “Red Arrows”. When the application was made to the BBMF in October last year, they were first on the list, followed by the other display teams in order of preference. This years planned event coincides with the Tour of Britain cycle race, which we understand may initially take place in our area, the Red Arrows have become a part of this, so it was natural to think that we just may be lucky. One year ago yesterday I received a letter from the RAF advising me that the Lancaster was available for the 2014 event; we did well then as eventually we got both Lancasters albeit a day late on the Sunday.
I have been checking the BBMF website every day now for two weeks, “details of displays yet to be circulated” is what it says.
Now the waiting is over, bang on “Q” yesterday I received a letter from the RAF, we will not be getting the Red Arrows, but there is no disappointment at all here as this is what we are being offered:-

Saturday the 5th of September: Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane.
Sunday the 6th of September: Lancaster.

What we eventually get will depend on mechanical issues with the aircraft and of course, the weather. The Lancaster will be Thumper III, the only airworthy Lancaster in this country, there are six Spitfires, with one undergoing a major refit, and there are two Hurricanes. The devil now is truly in the detail, as Rolls Royce’s Spitfire and the BBMF in the same area, at the same time could be awkward from a planning aspect and for safety reasons. I do know that the RR Aircraft will probably attend on the Sunday, on returning from another event, just as in 2013, this shifts the odds in our favour to a degree.
It will be some time before the outcome is clear, and this all has to be approached very carefully from a co-operation point of view, but with good luck and fortune all should be well, The Sunday Lancaster may yet have a new escort.

[PanBiker]

Sounding good Peter, do you have to supply annotated mapping for the Rolls Royce Spitfire as you do for the BBMF?

[Thomo]

Thank you Ian, The answer is no, they know exactly where we are. As ever though, it would be extremely helpful if interested parties would express their wishes as to what they would like to see, there are many possibilities, but an early approach is paramount. I have been considering which Royal nest I should poke a stick in this time!

[Thomo]

It will be some time yet before there is clarity in regard to air attendance for this years event. No flight programmes have yet been promulgated, however a little research indicates a possibility. Below is a copy of the mail from Ian Craighead at Rolls Royce Heritage Trust received last November:-

“I will put this event on the calendar for the Spitfire. There is another event already noted for the same weekend, but it may be possible to take in yours on the return from there. The 2015 season is far from firm at the moment, but you must let us know if the BBMF and/or The Red Arrows are planned for the same event as it will complicate our participation.
I will also see if the Trust can support on the ground”.

We know that we will not be seeing the Red Arrows.

In 2013 when the RR Spitfire came here and put on a good show, it was returning from the big air show at Prestwick in Scotland, the pilot, Phill O’Dell called me at 0900 on the Sunday morning to inform me that he was about to depart Prestwick and would be with us at app, 1100, he was here at 1050. The event at Prestwick lasted seven days and that Sunday was the last day. There were two major events that weekend, Portrush in Ireland and Prestwick, the BBMF attended both. Last year, 2014, again these two events coincided with our Heritage Weekend and we had the two Lancasters on the Sunday en route to Portrush and Prestwick via Menwith Hill after a rapid change of plan due to bad weather on the Saturday.

The events at Portrush and Prestwick this year again coincide with our Heritage Weekend, and so a pattern is emerging. No confirmed details have yet been announced as to what will be where, but as I see it the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane of the BBMF will pass over here on Saturday the 5th en route to the other events, the Lancaster taking the shortest route home will again come here on the Sunday, as will the possibly the RR Spitfire.

Another member of our Heritage Weekend team suggests that we should go for all we can get, and hope that it all works out. I have prepared a new set of annotated maps and coordinates for the BBMF and downloaded the CAA application form in readiness for what must be done soon, the BBMF acceptance. If it comes to a “tossup” over the Lancaster or the RR Spitfire on the Sunday, I would prefer the Spitfire.

What I am thinking of doing is mailing Ian Craighead at RR Heritage Trust and advising him of what the BBMF are offering, again this must be done now, as I see it, if they can work together at Prestwick, it could work for us here.

[PanBiker]

David Whip has posted on the Barnoldswick Talk Facebook site the route that the Tour of Britain will take through Barlick, its now been published in the cycling press so is out in the wild so to speak.

Barnoldswick Talk

[Thomo]

Thanks Ian. It looks like being an extended weekend, front seats available in our garden, bring own your "Pop", cat lovers only! Other ongoing stuff at present is work with the two Imperial War Museums, and the CWGC with multiple updates to their databases. Some of this has come about as initially a result of the book, this itself has become a new project, a revised and extended 2nd edition. Some of the information originally culled from the CWGC is flawed, particularly in respect of the Yorkshire Regiments in WW1. A gentleman at Skipton who has a copy of the book and access to the pertinent service records is sending me information, mostly in connection with incorrect service No's, this is being done with land mail as he is not PC savvy. I still have the original database and an unbound copy of the book, both are being updated.

[David Whipp]

Sorry Peter, race turns left onto Greenberfield Lane before it gets to you...

Thanks for posting the link Ian. Not sure if everyone will be able to follow it though? Here's the text:

Following the national launch of this year's Tour of Britain, I think it's OK to share information about the route through West Craven on Monday 7th September.
Initially, the suggested route just went straight through Barlick on the main road. After a bit of wrangling and to-ing and fro-ing, it's now been agreed that the race will come past the following Barnoldswick locations; Greenberfield Locks, town centre shops, Hope Technology and Bancroft Mill before descending Salterforth Drag and going on to Earby to tackle Bleara Road.
From Bracewell, the route turns on to Greenberfield Lane, past the locks to Skipton Road at Ghyll Brow, left at the mini-roundabout, then right in front of Holy Trinity and along Church Street, turning right onto Butts, then over Monkroyd, along Calf Hall Road to Walmsgate, up Westgate, Colne Road and Gillians Lane, up Tubber Hill and along High Lane before dropping down to the Anchor, across the cross roads into Earby and up Stoneybank and Bleara Road.
There will inevitably be a lot of travel disruption on the day.
A lot of the roads on the route through West Craven are currently being patched and are due to be surface dressed during the summer. I've also asked for work to be carried out to repair Greenberfield Lane, the junction of Skipton Road with Fernlea Avenue and Salterforth Road at Earby before the race.
Details of all the stages are in the cycling press.

[Wendyf]

Ooh! Deckchairs (and binoculars) at my house then....er, camping available for a small fee!

[Thomo]

Salterforth Drag, much safer going up than down. I did the climb on a Hills Special with fixed gear in 1958, coming down again was much worse. I have sent a mail to Ian Craighead, Chief Executive of the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, advising him of what is on offer from the BBMF. I also stated that if the attendance of their aircraft would be compromised by the second visit by the Lancaster, their Spitfire would be preferable, we will see what happens next. I will allow some time for a reply before returning the acceptance slip to the BBMF, fingers and all else are now well and truly crossed.
Last night I had the pleasure of being present when two cheques were handed over to the representatives of the Yorkshire, and the North West Air Ambulances, each for £2500, again: Well done Barlick!

[Thomo]

In regard to this years Heritage Weekend, Saturday the 5th, Sunday the 6th and now Monday the 7th, there are a few changes and additions. As always it has been difficult to get this arranged in respect of dates and input etc. Three of the features are intended to be anniversaries of events that took place in WW2, 1. the arrival here of what is now Aerospace, 75 years, the end of WW2, 70 years, and the arrival here of displaced persons, ie Poles and migrant workers. A more recent addition is to be the re dedication of the beautifully restored Memorial Garden on Kelbrook Road, 60 years. The extra day added, Monday the 7th has seen some changes due to the re routing of the Tour of Britain Cycle race, more on this later, it is still coming here but is changed. So, what have we got at present? On the Saturday we have a fly past originally of three BBMF aircraft, Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, the Lancaster is as we know hors de combat, a local man took a picture of it yesterday at Conningsby but could not be assured that it will be back in service in time, we will have to wait and see, the picture will follow when I have permission. The event will be attended on that day by a 1940's 18 piece Swing Band from the Harrogate area, Echo 42, they will play in the Town Square in the afternoon, and for a dance in the Civic Hall in the evening, admission by ticket. Work with the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust for a ground display is on going. I believe that the Sunday would be the ideal day for the re dedication of the Memorial Garden, with this mind I tried to get the Yorkshire Regiment involved again, despite the best efforts of the Regimental Secretary and others, this cannot be done. they are already fully committed elsewhere. In light of this I am now trying to get RAF and USAF personnel interested at Menwith Hill, it will also be passed to the Royal Naval Reserves at Leeds, and of course to our local Cadets, Royal British Legion and the Town Brass Band. The Lancaster was scheduled for a return visit on that day, as is hopefully the Rolls Royce owned Spitfire MK XIX, Rolls and the BBMF are working together on this, but I am still awaiting some feedback, it was ever thus! The Cycle Race should enter the Town from the direction of Thornton, not as originally planned from Greenberfield Lane. That is the bones of it at present.

[Thomo]

Here is the picture of Thumper III undergoing repairs, taken yesterday by Mr Aiden Wellock of Barnoldswick.

[Thomo]

This has just arrived from RAF Menwith Hill:-

Good afternoon Peter,

Thank you very much for your email and information.

I am afraid we have very few USAF personnel now and only 1 RAF. Most of the people who work here are in fact civilian. However, I will make sure that details of the event are placed in the base newspaper so everyone knows it is happening. It sounds like a great event.

Thanks very much once again for letting us know and we will make sure its publicized.

Very best wishes,
Angela Marquis
Community Relations.

It was ever thus!

[Thomo]

It is now established that the re dedication of the Memorial Garden on Kelbrook Road will be at 1100 hours on Sunday the 6h of September, the time may alter slightly to coincide with air activity. Yesterday I spoke with the Adjutant at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Captain Chalmers, and have sent an invitation to participate.

[plaques]

Not quite Barlick but it could equally apply. Red, white & blue bicycles parked up in trees in Albert Rd, Colne. Preparation for the Tour of Briton Cycle Race. (Stage 2),

[Thomo]

Yesterday I had a call from the Ops Officer at the BBMF, this is what is planned:- Sat. the 5th at app. 1220 local time, 3 aircraft, Lancaster if operational, Spitfire and Hurricane, if the Lancaster is still non op, there will be a replacement, Dakota, Spitfire or Hurricane. Sun. the 6th at app, 1500 local time, Lancaster or replacement aircraft, if this is a fighter, it may also do a display. In view of this I have suggested that the re dedication of the Memorial Gardens be moved to from 1100 to 1500 on the 6th this may also be better for the religious bodies involved, no reply as yet. I have not heard from the RR Heritage Trust about their intentions so I will be actively chasing them up next week. At 1100 last night I had a response from Ceres Division of the RNR at Leeds, they will see what they can do to assist. There has been no reply from the AFC in Harrogate. With just three weeks left, some of this is becoming frustrating to say the least.

[Thomo]

[Thomo]

For the first time ever, this is now becoming hard work, there have been hiccups in the past, but not on the same scale as this. Two aircraft are being re-engined , the Lancaster and the RR owned Spitfire, it is now unlikely that we will see either. However the BBMF will be providing replacements for the Lancaster.

[Thomo]

We now have some idea of the "when" its the "what" that is uncertain, and in respect of air activity, this also depends on the weather. What we hopefully have is this; on Saturday the 5th of September, a good general selection of WW2 related displays in the marquee. The Town Band will be playing in the Town Square in the morning, the Echo 42 big swing band will perform in the Civic Hall for two hours in the afternoon, and again in the evening as per the previous poster. At app 1220 local time there should be a fly past by BBMF aircraft, I will not know which until the week before. There should be a 2nd fly past at app 1500 local time on Sunday the 6th, this will hopefully coincide with the re dedication of the Kelbrook Road Memorial Gardens.