February 2023

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 6th February 2023

Set in stone..

The Salisbury-based, Secret Spitfires project (https://www.secretspitfiresmemorial.org.uk/) has placed a very secret commemoration of the work done there into the wall of the cathedral

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/…/23297942…/…

SALISBURYJOURNAL.CO.UK

Secret Spitfire memorial fixed on the east face of Salisbury Cathedral

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 18th February 2023

Spitfire Makers to unveil their next Blue Plaque at Maskers Theatre Open Day

Join us on 4th March for the unveiling of another “Spitfire Makers” plaque, and find out how what is now the Maskers Studio Theatre was once a secret “Shadow Factory” making vital components of the iconic WWII fighter.

The unveiling (at around 10.30am) will be performed by a former employee of the Auto Metalcraft Ltd company who were subcontracted to make parts for Supermarine and other war work. Vera Saxby (then Hayward – see photo of Vera in 1945) was the secretary to the Works Manager, Ben Curtis.

After the unveiling there will be a short presentation by Alan Matlock, chair of the Southampton-based Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust, who will explain the history of the company and the contribution of the many unsung workers who helped make the plane for The Few to fly.

If you know of any others who were part of the workforce at Auto Metalcraft (or other Supermarine sites around the city) Spitfire Makers would love to hear from you.

Do pop in between the times below and see what the Maskers do and how they do it. Meet some of the members and find out more about different aspects of theatre.

Free refreshments!

MASKERS STUDIO THEATRE (behind Specsavers)

Emsworth Road, Southampton, SO15 3LX

Sat 4th March from 10am to 1pm

Images courtesy of Mrs Vera Saxby, The Maskers Theatre Group and Spitfire Makers

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 20th February 2023

RIP ‘SMIFFY’

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our Spitfire Makers Honorary President, Don Smith.

Don first came to the attention of the Shirley Local History Group about 15 years ago when they were researching the history of the Shirley Rec’, now St James’ Park. Several members of that group are now part of the Spitfire Makers project team.

From the age of just 13, with almost all his schoolmates having been evacuated, Don went to work for Auto Metalcraft Ltd, just across the road from his childhood home in Shirley – see photo below. There he helped turn 6 foot long sheets of high grade aluminium into Spitfire jettison fuel tanks and air filters.

When production of these parts needed to be expanded he was taken to help with the installation of gas pipes into what is now Shirley Parish Hall. Fittingly, this is where, in March last year, Don helped to unveil the first of the Spitfire Makers blue plaques. Sections of Don’s pipes can still be seen in the Hall.

For the unveiling of our next plaque – at Auto Metalcraft’s premises in Emsworth Road, Shirley, (now home to The Maskers Theatre) on March 4th we would have loved to have had Don with us. (See previous post for info about this event.) He advised us on the wording for the plaque and on March 4th we will especially be remembering him and the contribution he and so many of the unsung Spitfire Makers like him made.

Don’s stories of his apprenticeship at Auto Metalcraft are precious records of how even young teenagers were helping the war effort in those dark days.

During one of the many air raids, an Auto Metalcraft lorry had apparently run out of fuel on the Avenue. With the air raid still going on, it was Don who was sent to cycle across town – with a bucket of petrol hooked on his handlebars – only to find it was the lorry’s brakes that had seized!

He tells too of the night-time air raid when his grandmother, who lived with them, had to be coaxed out of bed to the family Anderson shelter (still standing in the garden at the back of Shirley High Street). To provide them some protection from the shrapnel falling from above, Don picked up the lid of the metal dustbin. It was only in the morning he saw a jagged piece of metal had embedded itself into the lid!

Don went on to work at Solent Carpets who were making parts for wings and pilots’ seats. He was a tram conductor and trainee driver and in the Home Guard before he then joined the Army. After the war he worked for many years at Hampshire Car Bodies (another of Supermarine’s wartime subcontractors) which later became HCB Angus.

He was always so generous with his time and, with stories such as these and many more, a great source of information for our project. He was delighted, as were we, for him to be our Honorary President. He was a proud Sotonian and a true gentleman.

RIP ‘Smiffy’