- A different sort of event for us, with support from Liz and Mandy.
- National Award for Spitfire Makers
- May Morris, Spitfire Parts Inspector
- Posted on Facebook by Kiwi Education – 24th October 2022
Alan Matlock posted on Facebook – 10th October 2022
A different sort of event for us, with support from Liz and Mandy.
The children from the junior school next door and the adults all seemed to enjoy finding out a bit more about the history of the Spitfire and Woolston.
Only a small number of children could be there so I’m still hoping to get invited back to visit the whole class some time soon.
Posted on Facebook – 16th October 2022
National Award for Spitfire Makers
The work of Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust was recognised at the Aviation Heritage UK awards event in Cheshire on Saturday.
Chair, Alan Matlock, was presented with the AHUK Individual Award which he accepted on behalf of the Trust project team.
The nomination referred to the work the Trust has done to raise awareness of how Supermarine managed to continue to produce the vital Spitfires even after the main factories had been put out of action.
Also mentioned was the online petition Alan initiated last year in a bid to save the original Spitfire Flight Shed in Southampton. The petition gathered more than 55,000 signatures world wide but, despite the best efforts of Alan, historian Dave Key of The Supermariners and aviation heritage expert, Julian Temple before, during and after the planning application meeting, the demolition has sadly gone ahead.
However, the campaign Alan set in motion inspired Julian to launch a similar one to save the Miles Aircraft Factory, near Reading which has, at least so far, been successful in blocking demolition.
In his acceptance speech Alan paid tribute to the whole project team’s support in gathering the stories of many Supermarine workers and the dispersed places where they became Spitfire Makers. He also thanked Dave Key of The Supermariners website for all the historical detail he has contributed to both the Flight Shed campaign and the ongoing project to place Blue Plaques at the Spitfire production sites around Southampton and beyond.
The awards day began with a visit to the Hooton Park Heritage Hangars, now home to some wonderful vintage planes and cars. It was great to see what can be done when aviation heritage buildings are preserved and repurposed: the WWI era hangars are the same design as the ones that were demolished at Southampton Airport which were used by Supermarine to assemble the Spitfires.
The awards ceremony was held at the Vauxhall Motors Sports Club, Ellesmere Port, and gave Alan further opportunities to explain the aims of the Spitfire Makers to AHUK members from across the country.
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 20th October 2022
May Morris, Spitfire Parts Inspector
The Southampton-based Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust is working to place Blue Plaques where Spitfire production continued after the main factories were bombed and to honour the women and men who became Spitfire Makers in these places.
Today we visited a care home in Chandler’s Ford where Spitfire parts inspector May Morris was the guest of honour at a talk followed by tea and cake.
Like so many of her generation she plays down her contribution: “I never did anything spectacular.”
Wonderful stories and photos collected in a recent interview with May were included in the talk and other residents and staff were intrigued and amazed to find out the vital role she played in Spitfire production.
One of Churchill’s “Unknown Warriors”, May was 105 last month and is now known!
Posted on Facebook by Kiwi Education – 24th October 2022
Today Burlington House hosted a fascinating lecture from The Spitfire Makers. Our City Ambassadors can look forward to learning more about Southampton’s role in the production of the Spitfire and how this affected our city throughout the Second World War.
A big thank you to Alan Matlock, chair of The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust. Alan was kind enough to come down to Portland Terrace to film an exciting lecture which will become a key part of the City Ambassador journey. We look forward to sharing this feature with our first intake of learners on the programme!
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust 