A WARTIME Spitfire fighter aircraft will be exhibited in Warrington town centre on August 3 – 70 years on from when the town bought two of the ‘planes to help the war effort.
Shoppers will have a chance to sit in the cockpit of the iconic fighter and even take pictures of themselves inside it.
In August, 1941, the first of two Spitfires bought by the people of Warrington for the RAF went into action.
It was called The Spirit of Warrington – and it was subsequently followed by The Spirit of Warrington II.
Both took part in important campaigns during World War Two thanks to the £10,000 the town’s people raised to buy them.
Warrington escaped relatively lightly during the war, but on September 14, 1940, a lone German bomber attacked a Spitfire Gala on the recreation ground at Thames Board Mills, where hundreds of families were holding a day to raise money for a Spitfire. Two families were almost entirely wiped out and many other people killed or wounded.
Cllr Mike Hannon, deputy leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “Spitfires are an important part of Warrington’s history, so it’s great news that this exhibit is coming to town as part of National Playday.
“I hope that young and old alike will enjoy taking a closer look at this unique model.”
National Playday is the national day for play, traditionally celebrated on the first Wednesday in August. This year, Warrington is pulling out all the stops with a huge range of entertainment and activities on offer for all the family.
In addition to the Spitfire there will be a helter skelter, puppet show, water zorbs, fairground rides, a medieval encampment, arts and crafts workshops and stalls and a fancy dress mile and much more.
For more information contact Warrington Market on 01925 632571 or email [email protected]
Picture (courtesy of Warrington Museum) One of the original Spirit of Warrington Spitfires.
Iconic warplane to visit town
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
Fantastic and it smacks of another Steve Pickering idea. I met him the other Saturday at 7am when he was setting up the transport exhibition. He told me that he had loads of ideas for the Town coming up and he isn’t dissapointing his public. He reminded me that he had made me a TV star with his acclaimed series of adverts – you had to be there to appreciate the experience as a Gorrilla escaped on a mobility scooter with a bunch of bannas and other crazy moments with Pete Pinnington and his enormous sound system and as for the vicar….I think that Steve invented the expression ‘Thinkling Outside the Box’ – well done Marketing Manager of the Year.
Thanks to more creative ideas coming from Steve, it’s making Warrington Town Centre a more interesting place to come visit and shop! It’s good to see that WBC has a proactive, passionate marketing manager!
Steve really is a credit to the Council. I had my Corsair in town for the transport exhibition and even got a little “exhibtor” plaque as a memento of the day….The Spitfire will be even more amazing to see and certainly a few hours off work to go and have a look….my ten year old is absolutely gaga about Spitfires so this will be a wonderful suprise for him too! Thanks