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Secret Spitfires Commemorative Plaques Installed Across Salisbury

  • Eight out of the 11 plaques now in place
  • Complementing the Secret Spitfires Memorial, the plaques mark locations where Spitfire parts were built and assembled during WWII

Salisbury, 11.11.21: The Secret Spitfire Charity is delighted to announce that a series of commemorative plaques have now been installed in locations across the City and beyond – as eagle-eyed residents may have observed!

The plaques, designed by historian Norman Parker, the late director of the film “Secret Spitfires” Ethem Cetintas and Chair of the Secret Spitfire Charity, Chris Whalley and manufactured by Leander Architectural, take pride of place on the exteriors of buildings confirmed to have been requisitioned for Spitfire production during WWII. Building on the spectacle of the Secret Spitfires Memorial, they will provide further recognition of the efforts of hundreds of young women, boys, elderly men and engineers who constructed approximately 2,500 Spitfires in total secrecy in Salisbury between 1940-1945 after the bombing of the Southampton Supermarine Factory.

The sites where memorial plaques have been installed:

  1. Anna Valley Motors Garage, now the McCarthy Stone Monument Place Retirement Living Plus development, Castle St: Fuselage assembly, construction of tail units and component parts
  2. Wilts and Dorset Bus Garage, 141 Castle St, Salisbury: Wing production
  3. Wilts and Dorset Bus Depot (Entrance), now Salisbury Reds, 152 Castle St, Salisbury: Fuselage assembly and engine fitting
  4. Wessex Motors Garage, now Old George Mall Car Park: Building of fuselages and tail units
  5. “Factory No. 1”, now the Car Park, Salisbury RFC, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, used for fitting out fuselages and engine installation
  6. Highpost Hotel, now The Stones Hotel, Highpost, Old Sarum: Air Traffic Control, accommodation for High Post Airfield
  7. Wiltshire Flying Club, now Chemring, Highpost: Final assembly and flight test
  8. Final Assembly Area, now Highpost Business Park: Final assembly and flight test

Sites where memorial plaques are still to be installed:

  1. “Factory No. 2”, now Janspeed, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, where component assemblies and wings were built
  2. Watt & Vincent, now A.J. Waters Garage, Devizes Rd: Building of fuel tanks
  3. Chattis Hill Aerodrome, now in private ownership: Where two hangars were built and used for final assembly, an experimental unit and test and flight

Norman Parker and Chris Whalley officially unveiled the plaque at the former Anna Valley Motors Garage on Thursday 4th November, and gave a talk to residents on the Secret Spitfires story and Memorial.

Verity McKay, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, the developer behind the Monument Place Retirement Living Plus development, commented: Here at McCarthy Stone, we recognise that our responsibilities go further than building high-quality retirement apartments – we also seek to create a positive legacy in the communities in which we build.

“Ensuring that we retain as much of the history of the Spitfire is very important to us and with the unveiling of this plaque, we hope to keep that history alive for our homeowners and the people of Salisbury for many years to come.”

Chris Whalley, Chair of the Secret Spitfire Charity added: “It’s wonderful to see the plaques in place, and we are very grateful to the current custodians of the properties for helping us keep this part of history alive.”

Contact: info@secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

Publicity Officer: jen.calvert@outlook.com / 07746 911163

Secret Spitfires Memorial

secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

facebook.com/SecretSpitfiresMemorial

twitter.com/SalsSpitfires

Secret Spitfire Charity

Registered charity number: 1183978

Registered address: The Rickyard, Silver Street, Alderbury, Salisbury SP5 3AN

Trustees:

  • Chairman – Chris Whalley
  • Sir Christopher Benson, OAM DL – Co-Patron
  • Josh Green, Chartered Tax Adviser
  • Stephen Whitmore

The images are copyrighted and for use by the press/media only. For more information, please email info@secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

The Secret Spitfire Charity today releases the details of the unveiling of what will become Salisbury’s newest landmark: The Secret Spitfires Memorial.

Salisbury, 29.06.21: Three years in the planning, and after over £100,000 raised, the Memorial will serve as a lasting tribute to the hundreds of young women, boys, elderly men and engineers who constructed approximately 2,500 Spitfires in total secrecy in Salisbury between 1940-1945 after the bombing of the Southampton Supermarine factory.

The ceremony at Salisbury Rugby Club, in the shadow of the Memorial, will take place on Friday 9th July on the pitches adjoining Castle Road, with the public very welcome to attend. The event will be honored by significant involvement from the Royal Air Force:

  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston KCB CBE ADC, the Chief of the Air Staff will represent the RAF supported by Secret Spitfire Charity Co-Patron Air Commodore Suraya Marshall ADC MA LLB RAF
  • The Queen’s Colour Squadron and the Band of the RAF Regiment will be present to support the occasion, concluding with the Sunset Ceremony
  • A Spitfire flypast will take place at 1830

This official ceremony, which will also be witnessed by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs. Sarah Troughton and Mayor of Salisbury Mrs. Caroline Corbin, will take place between 1745 and 1830. Attending public are advised to arrive by 1730 and bring seating and refreshments as required, and are also advised that whilst parking will be available on Hudson’s Field, there will be no welfare facilities or refreshments available on site at the Rugby Club. Whilst the ceremony will not be a ticketed event, the public are encouraged to dig deep and donate; collection buckets will be on site. Those wanting the best view of the Spitfire flypast are advised to take advantage of the parking at Hudson’s Field and walk up to Old Sarum hill fort ready for 1830.

The reception following the ceremony at the Clubhouse will take behind closed doors on an invitation-only basis, due to Covid restrictions and there will be no access to Salisbury Rugby Club itself for those without a formal invitation.

Secret Spitfires Charity Chairman Chris Whalley commented: “Whilst we are delighted that the Spitfire will finally be unveiled – and with great fanfare – we are of course bitterly disappointed that we are unable to welcome the wider public, who have been so generous in their support, to join us for celebrations at the Clubhouse following the Ceremony.  We had hoped that the lifting of Covid restrictions would take place on 21st June, allowing us to do this, but sadly it was not meant to be. The immovable date of 9th July has long been confirmed, and we are inviting our biggest supporters to join us alongside those who served in the secret factories and their families. We plan to hold a yearly fundraiser, complete with live music, drinks and delicious grub every Summer to celebrate the Memorial and hope to see large numbers turn out next year.”

Today, the Secret Spitfire Charity also announces that it has a new Co-Patron, Air Commodore Suraya Marshall ADC MA LLB RA, the most senior currently serving female aviator in the Royal Air Force. As Commandant of Royal Air Force College Cranwell, she is responsible for inspiring, attracting, training and developing the next generation of the Royal Air Force. In her role as Patron, she plans to use her position to spread the story of the Secret Spitfires and forge a link between the story and her role as STEM champion for the RAF in inspiring young people – in particular girls and young women – to pursue a career in engineering or piloting aircraft. The Secret Spitfire Charity has every intention of supporting this ambition to the best of its ability.

She commented: “I am delighted and immensely proud to be involved. The collective endeavors of this group of people with no formal training or qualifications are breath-taking. They exemplified courage, innovation, and determination and are an inspiration and example to us all. The memorial reflects the incredible efforts made by those extraordinary secret workers and exemplifies our gratitude and respect. I want young people today to see their story as an example that proves that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.” 

Fundraising for the Secret Spitfire Charity continues in earnest, with Secret Spitfire Charity Chairman Chris Whalley recently having completed a walk from Dover to Salisbury, raising over £5,000. Accompanied by his wife Lindsey, the challenge was undertaken in three phases; Dover to Hythe, South Downs Way and Clarendon Way. Dubbed “Whal’s Walk II,” it was a sequel to the hugely successful “Whal’s Walk” of 2015 which raised over £10,000 for two local former rugby players whose lives were affected by tragedy.

Those wishing to donate to the Secret Spitfire Charity are encouraged to do so via JustGiving or by sending a cheque, ideally along with a GiftAid form, to the charity’s registered address.

Biography, Air Commodore Suraya Marshall ADC MA LLB RAF

Commandant Royal Air Force College Cranwell

Air Commodore Suraya Marshall grew up in York, graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Law degree and becoming a member of East Midlands University Air Squadron before joining the Royal Air Force as a Navigator in 1994.  During 3 tours flying on the Tornado F3, she participated in numerous operational deployments in Iraq, conducted Quick Reaction Alert in defence of the UK and the Falkland Islands, qualified as a Weapons Instructor and deployed on many overseas, multi-national training exercises.

Command appointments include Fast Jet Weapons System Officer Training, Officer Commanding No. 92(R) Squadron in the Air Warfare Centre responsible for operational Tactics & Training, Officer Commanding No. 55(R) Squadron delivering Rear Crew Flying Training and Deputy Commander of the Royal Air Force’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force. She assumed command of Royal Air Force College Cranwell in December 2019.

In operational command and control, she has worked with coalition partners in the Middle East Combined Air Operations Centre, where she was involved in the design and execution for the second Gulf War in 2003 and then in 2019 as the Director of Coalition Air Operations in Iraq, Syria, the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Staff appointments include 3 years working in defence procurement, time in the Typhoon Force Headquarters delivering training transformation and defence sales, and 5 years spent working in the joint strategic environment, initially in the Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and latterly as Military Assistant to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff.  A graduate of Advanced Command and Staff Course (2009) and Higher Command and Staff Course (2019), she holds a Masters in Defence Studies.

Suraya is married to Air Vice-Marshal Al Marshall OBE, a former Harrier and Sentinel pilot, who is currently the Head of Defence Commitments and Crisis in the Ministry of Defence. They have 2 children, Ben (16) and Sophie (14) and in between work and school, the family enjoys spending as much time as possible together, travelling overseas and trying most outdoor activities, especially skiing, hiking, cycling and diving.

Contact: info@secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

Publicity Officer: jen.calvert@outlook.com / 07746 911163

Secret Spitfires Memorial

secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

facebook.com/SecretSpitfiresMemorial

twitter.com/SalsSpitfires

Secret Spitfire Charity

Registered charity number: 1183978

Registered address: The Rickyard, Silver Street, Alderbury, Salisbury SP5 3AN

Trustees:

  • Chairman – Chris Whalley
  • Sir Christopher Benson, OAM DL – Co-Patron
  • Josh Green, Chartered Tax Adviser
  • Stephen Whitmore

Salisbury, 26.05.21: The Secret Spitfire Charity is delighted to announce that a series of commemorative plaques are due to be installed in locations across the City ahead of the Memorial’s unveiling on Friday 9th July.

The plaques, designed by Norman Parker, the late Ethem Cetintas and Chris Whalley and manufactured by Leander Architectural, will take pride of place on the exteriors of buildings confirmed to have been requisitioned for Spitfire production during WWII. Building on the spectacle of the Secret Spitfires Memorial, they will provide further recognition of the efforts of hundreds of young women, boys, elderly men and engineers who constructed approximately 2,500 Spitfires in total secrecy in Salisbury between 1940-1945 after the bombing of the Southampton Supermarine Factory.

The full list of memorial plaque sites:

  1. Anna Valley Motors Garage, now McCarthy and Stone retirement homes, Castle St: Fuselage assembly, construction of tail units and component parts
  2. Wilts and Dorset Bus Garage, 141 Castle St, Salisbury: Wing production
  3. Wilts and Dorset Bus Depot (Entrance), now Salisbury Reds, 152 Castle St, Salisbury: Fuselage assembly and engine fitting
  4. Wessex Motors Garage, now Old George Mall Car Park: Building of fuselages and tail units
  5. “Factory No. 1”, now the Car Park, Salisbury RFC, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, used for fitting out fuselages and engine installation
  6. “Factory No. 2”, now Janspeed, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, where component assemblies and wings were built
  7. Watt & Vincent, now A.J. Waters Garage, Devizes Rd: Building of fuel tanks
  8. Highpost Hotel, now The Stones Hotel, Highpost, Old Sarum: Air Traffic Control, accommodation for High Post Airfield
  9. Chattis Hill Aerodrome, now in private ownership: Where two hangars were built and used for final assembly, an experimental unit and test and flight
  10. Wiltshire Flying Club, now Chemring, Highpost: Final assembly and flight test
  11. Final Assembly Area, now Highpost Business Park: Final assembly and flight test

Nicki Beswarick, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, whose Monument Place development stands on the site of the former Wilts and Dorset Bus Garage, commented: “Ensuring that we retain as much of the history of the Spitfire is very important to us and with the unveiling of this plaque, we hope to keep that history alive for our homeowners and the people of Salisbury for many years to come.” 

Fundraising for the Secret Spitfire Charity has resumed in earnest, with the Charity setting a new target of £30,000 on top of the £85,000 (approx.) already raised, in order to ensure that the Memorial will be maintained and protected in the future. The charity also plans legacy activity to celebrate and commemorate the remarkable achievement of all those involved in this most special part of the war effort.

To kickstart the fundraising, Secret Spitfire Charity Chairman Chris Whalley will be walking from Dover to Salisbury, departing on the 14th June and arriving on Sunday 27th June. Accompanied for the duration by his wife Lindsey, the route will be done in three phases; Dover to Hythe, South Downs Way and Clarendon Way. Dubbed “Whal’s Walk 2,” it is a sequel to the hugely successful “Whal’s Walk” of 2015 which raised over £10,000 for two local former rugby players whose lives were affected by tragedy. Further details and fundraising will be revealed in due course.

Chris said: “It has been a long, hard winter for everyone – but the light is at the end of the tunnel! This isn’t the beginning of the end – we are simply another step closer to the end of the beginning.”

The Secret Spitfires Memorial site has also undergone a huge transformation over the winter and spring, thanks to the green fingers of Susan Hampton Garden Plans and Hewlett Turf and Landscape Ltd. An experienced local landscape designer and long-term Salisbury resident, Susan has designed many local private gardens and has also worked with schools and businesses including Bishop Wordsworth’s.

Her design for the area surrounding the Memorial site is based on the South Coast of England, with different levels of planting and materials representing forests, cliffs, beaches, roads and the sea itself. Hardy plants including sedum and mini box hedging will grow to cover the gravel over the years, and be cloud pruned to ensure a stunning backdrop to the Spitfire.

Susan said: “”It’s a privilege to be involved in bringing this intriguing chapter in Salisbury’s history to a wider public in such a significant way. On a personal note, it also brings things together rather neatly for me as I originally came to the city to work at the museum and am now in garden design.”

The site is now almost ready to receive the Spitfire – and plans for the unveiling will be shared in the coming weeks.

Those wishing to donate are encouraged to do so via JustGiving or by sending a cheque, ideally along with a GiftAid form, to the charity’s registered address.

Contact: info@secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

Publicity Officer: jen.calvert@outlook.com / 07746 911163

Secret Spitfires Memorial

secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk

facebook.com/SecretSpitfiresMemorial

twitter.com/SalsSpitfires

Secret Spitfire Charity

Registered charity number: 1183978

Registered address: The Rickyard, Silver Street, Alderbury, Salisbury SP5 3AN

Trustees:

  • Sir Christopher Benson, DL
  • Josh Green, Chartered Tax Adviser
  • Chris Whalley
  • Stephen Whitmore

The Secret Spitfires (2016 film):

For news and information on the film and details of any upcoming screenings and to buy a DVD, visit the website at: www.secretspitfires.com/

Synopsis:

In 1940, the Germans destroyed the Spitfire factories in Southampton and believed they had ended the threat from their nemesis. But unknown to them, the British were building Spitfires in secret. Salisbury, Trowbridge, Reading and return of Southampton become the new major manufacturing centres for Spitfires hidden in secret sheds, garages, bus depots, a hotel, even bedrooms. Secret workforce, mainly made up of unskilled young girls, boys, women, elderly men and a handful of engineers, built almost half of 22,000 Spitfires, other half built at the shadow factory in Castle Bromwich.

Witnesses tell the story of this amazing achievement, recounting times of terrible sadness as well as joyous times that included GI dances, a Glenn Miller concert and a Joe Louis boxing match. Set against a backdrop of picturesque English countryside, we talk to 90 year old veterans who as teenagers built the aircraft in their local villages and towns, along with stories from famous ATA pilots Mary Ellis and Joy Lofthouse. Modern-day fighter pilots tell us their stories for whom the Spitfire holds a special place in history. This incredible story concludes with Dame Vera Lynn reciting a moving poem written by a Spitfire pilot.

facebook.com/secretspitfires

twitter.com/secretspitfires

The Book

Secret Spitfires: Britain’s Hidden Civilian Army

192 pages. Published by The History Press. Available in Hardcover or Kindle Edition.

Synopsis

September 1940: In the midst of the Second World War, the Luftwaffe unleashed a series of devastating raids on Southampton, all but destroying its spitfire factories. But production didn’t stop. Instead, manufacturing of this iconic fighter moved underground, to secret locations staffed by women, children and non-combatant men. With little engineering experience between them, they built a fleet of one of the greatest war planes that has ever existed. This is their story.

Spitfire has arrived Salisbury

The Secret Spitfire Charity is delighted to announce that the central element of the Memorial itself – a life-sized fibreglass rendition of the country’s best-loved aeroplane – has been built and delivered to Salisbury following an extraordinary level of donations, alongside a concerted programme of  fundraising. 

Click here for the press release (PDF)

Up, Up and Away for the Secret Spitfire Charity

The Secret Spitfire Charity’s campaign for the extraordinary memorial was officially launched charity’s trustees alongside stars and creators of the 2016 film The Secret Spitfires.

The charity was also honoured by the attendance and support of Air Marshal Sue Gray, the most senior British female military officer.

Click here for the press release (PDF)

Please credit photographs accordingly.

The Secret Spitfires Film

Secret Spitfire Memorial Branding