Posted by Alan Matlock on Facebook 5th December 2023
ONE PLAQUE, TWO UNVEILINGS!
The latest Spitfire Makers plaque, number 7 so far, has been unveiled, not once…but twice!
The plaque commemorates the Supermarine machine shop and tool room that was set up in what was Lowther’s Garage in Park Street, Shirley.
Having got the go-ahead to place the plaque from the generous sponsors, The Hyde Group, the Shirley Men’s Shed pulled out their drills (and all the stops) to get it up and ready.
On Sunday (December 3rd), Ian Paull, the son of the requisitioned garage owner, John Glencoe Paull, was there to help carry out the unveiling. Pulling the ribbons with him was Mervyn Jupe, son of Charles George Jupe, a Supermarine machinist who was transferred to Lowther’s after the bombing of the Woolston and Itchen Works.
Residents from the flats in Park Street which are managed by the Hyde Group also attended and one commented that it felt good to now be living in a building with a blue plaque on it!
On Monday Mr Sam Collins, area manager for The Hyde Group, helped Spitfire Makers Chair, Alan Matlock, with the action replay of the unveiling along with members of the Southampton U3A Local History Group.
Collins said, “The Hyde Group are pleased to support the Spitfire Makers in getting this amazing story of how Spitfire production continued to be more widely known.”
Having previously had sponsorship from individuals and local heritage groups, The Hyde Group are the first business organisation to fund a plaque.
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust is planning to place plaques at more than 30 locations across Southampton associated with production of the iconic fighter aircraft. So far, funding/pledges for about half of these has been raised but getting permission to place them is proving to be more challenging!
If you are interested in getting involved with the project please contact Spitfire Makers via their Facebook page or website.
Photos: Spitfire Makers team members, Sarah Penfold and Robert Stidworthy and The Supermariners.
Comment from Sarah Jupe
Thank-you so much for this truly wonderful experience! The efforts you made to enable my Dad, Mervyn, to get to help unveil this plaque on his 80th birthday to commemorate where his dad, Charlie George Jupe, worked as a machinist during the war was incredibly moving and meaningful for us all as a family. As you rightly said, the remarkable stories and sacrifices of the ’many’ men and women who did such vital work are so important to hear and acknowledge. What a valuable and important project you are doing for the historical record. With deep thanks and congratulations on such great work, from the family of Charlie Jupe!
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 22nd December 2023
Wishing all our friends, followers and Patrons a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We’d also like to send Christmas greetings to all our amazing sponsors who have funded the Spitfire Makers plaques. We know some of you have been waiting a (very) long time to see your donations become reality.
We’ve had an exciting year: four new plaque unveilings in Southampton, with coverage on TV, radio, online and in the local press; more than 30 outings for the “Building Spitfires Without a Factory” talk and several very moving meetings with Spitfire Makers who have shared their stories with us. They are no longer, “…the Unknown Warriors whose names will never be known, whose deeds will never be recorded.” Churchill, July 1940.
UPDATE… We’ve been given permission to go ahead with three more Spitfire Makers plaques – two of these approvals arrived just this week after months of waiting.
A fourth plaque is also close to being confirmed and details for all of these are now with Leander Architectural, our brilliant manufacturers.
We’ll be letting you know more in the New Year!
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust 