November 2025

Posted on Facebook by Robert Stidworthy – 2nd November 2025

Today 02 /11/2025

Poppy Crosses were put out at Various Supermarine Locations in Southampton to Honour the “Supermarine Fallen ahead of Remembrance Sunday 9th November 2025.

R.J Mitchell Memorial Hazel Road

Woolston ( Itchen Works) Tunnel Entrance

Spitfire Court (near Woolston Works),

They were placed there by me on behalf of: –

“Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust “

” Solent Sky Museum Southampton”

” The Supermariners “

” Southampton Roundel of the Spitfire Society”

Photos by Robert Stidworthy – The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust

Posted on Facebook by Robert Stidworthy – 3rd November 2025

Today 03/ 11/ 2025

A Poppy cross was put on the grave of one of the ” Supermarine Fallen”, at St. Mary Extra Cemetery, “Peggy Moon ” Known as the (Girl in Green). A Photo of which is included.

Placed there by me today on behalf of: – “Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust “; ” Solent Sky Museum Southampton”; ” The Supermariners “; ” Southampton Roundel of the Spitfire Society”

Photos by Robert Stidworthy – The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 5th November 2025

Another stirring story of Spitfire Sweethearts!

Photo courtesy of the National Spitfire Project; original owner unknown

The National Spitfire Project – original post

In the shadow of global conflict, three young lives—Ron Jeneway, Rowland Cook, and Dorothy Chetah (née Young)—were shaped by the urgent, determined efforts to produce one of the most iconic aircraft of all time: the Supermarine Spitfire.

Read about this extraordinary story of friendship that lasted a lifetime on our brand new website:

https://nationalspitfireproject.org/…/spitfire-workers…/

#supermarinespitfire #spitfire #friendship #worldwartwo #ww2 #courage #lestweforget

Comment by Alan Matlock – Chair of Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust

Another inspiring account of just a few of the many men and women who made the iconic fighter for the more frequently remembered Few. The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust and The Supermariners have been collecting stories such as these for some time and many of them would be ideal for the planned interactive links at the memorial. We look forward to sharing these with the National Spitfire Project. In the meantime, for further inspiration, have a look at the previous Facebook posts and websites of the Spitfire Makers and The Supermariners. For example, the 19th Spitfire Makers’ blue plaque was recently unveiled at the site of the railway tunnel, mentioned in this account, where Dorothy’s life was saved by Ron.

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 7th November 2025

“I’ll build a couple of wing tips and just see how it goes…”

We’ve been in touch with modern-day Spitfire Maker David Price since we first heard of his astounding project to build a full-size Spitfire in his back garden.

David explains how, as well as taking over his garden, it took over his life.

“Building the Spitfire, albeit in wood and fibreglass rather than aluminium, devoured my waking hours and dominated my slumber.”

His finished Spitfire is now safely out of the Cumbrian rain in a museum, but here’s an interview he did four years ago when it was still ‘work in progress’…

He adds, “Writing the book about this adventure, ‘How to Build a Spitfire’ took less time, but it also gave me the opportunity to tell the story of how real Spitfires were conceived and created.

We’re really pleased to learn that the story includes some of the “incredible testimonies from workers in the Supermarine factory in Southampton and in other Spitfire production facilities.”

As David told us, “I should mention that my new book ‘How to Build a Spitfire’ relates some of the Spitfire Makers’ information and their parts of their story.” (For more of these, go to our website, https://spitfiremakers.org.uk/ )

Bringing together the sometimes light-hearted tale of a personal quest, enthusiastically pursued, with an authoritative account of the technical workings of a war-winning weapon, and the stories of the men who flew it, ‘How to Build a Spitfire’ is a distinctive and affectionate homage to an enduring symbol of British engineering genius and national resilience.

We look forward to reading it and suggest it could be an ideal Christmas (or even pre-Christmas) present for any Spitfire enthusiast. The Amazon link to the book – hardback, paperback or audio, is here…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/B0F9…/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0…

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 10th November 2025

“…AND IN THE MORNING…”

Of the 631 civilian casualties of the WWII bombing of Southampton, around 50 were Supermarine workers caught up in the two attacks on the factories in Woolston 85 years ago.

Yesterday a Spitfire Makers wreath was among dozens laid at the Southampton Cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Day Service. It was a poignant ceremony, and sensitively organised by Southampton City Council.

Led by the City of Southampton (Albion) Band, huge crowds saw veterans, military units and cadets from all three services parade from the Guildhall Square.

Our blue and white wreath, in the colours of the Supermarine company flag, was laid by Spitfire Makers project team member Robert Stidworthy, whose grandfather, a Southampton Fire Officer, died during the Southampton Blitz, tackling a fire on the Western Esplanade.

While waiting for the service to begin, Stephen Bryan, a gentleman standing next to us, noticed the tribute on our wreath and told us that his grandmother, Jane Bryan, and his Aunt, Catherine Bryan, had been working for Supermarine at Woolston in September 1940 and had narrowly avoided becoming one of the casualties, “throwing themselves against the side of the railway embankment” to avoid the blast from the bombs that were falling short of the factory they had just left.

Winston was absolutely right when he said, “The front line runs through the factories, the workmen (and women!) are soldiers with different weapons, but the same courage.”

“…WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.”