Artist’s rendering of the three black granite tablets.

A Memorial to Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park was inaugurated in his hometown of Thames, New Zealand, last September at the Annual Battle of Britain Commemorations.

This year (subject to adequate fund-raising) will see the erection of three black granite tablets to complement that Memorial, on which will be recorded the names of the New Zealand Airmen recognised as being of Sir Winston Churchill’s “The Few”. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the only such recognition of “The Few” anywhere in New Zealand (please correct us if we are incorrect!).

We are sure that many of your associates will have some close, or perhaps more distant, connection with the Battle of Britain and those who served in this pivotal campaign at the beginning of World War 2.

We are seeking donations to bring this important recognition project to fruition. Please show your support for the sacrifices “The Few” made to protect our future.

Stage 2 of the Sir Keith Park Memorial at the Thames Airfield is a 2.3m high bronze statue of Sir Keith in his flying outfit which has been mounted under the existing replica Hurricane Fighter.

The pose reflects Sir Keith awaiting the return of his fighters after a sortie, with watch in hand. Replicas of his medals and awards have been incorporated into the statue around Sir Keith’s feet.

The statue was completed in time for the Battle of Britain 2025 Commemorations on Sunday, 14th September 2025.

The sculptor commissioned for the statue is Joanne Sullivan, of international renown. A couple of her significant New Zealand works are an over life sized Phar Lap with jockey (in Timaru) and Sir John Walker (in Manukau). Amongst her other credentials, Joanne was invited as a Sculptor Instructor as the prestigious American Academy of Equine Art, Lexington Kentucky, USA.

Joanne has purchased and imported from the UK authentic period, replica uniform and artefacts to ensure the preciseness of the final representation.

To see more of Joanne Sullivans work visit her website https://www.joannesullivan.studio/

Local artist Kylie Gunn has done a giant mural of Sir Keith Park, which is located at Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield. To view all of Kylie’s murals click here.

Stage 1 of the Sir Keith Park Memorial at the Thames Airfield is a full-sized replica of a World War Two Hurricane Fighter, displayed in Sir Keith’s personalised Battle of Britain battle colours. His designation in this campaign was “OK 1”. (Later, when commanding air operations in Malta, he flew another Hurricane designated “OK 2”).

Our replica Hurricane was erected a mere four days before the Battle of Britain 2020 Commemorations – the 80th Anniversary of the famous air battle. Huge signs of relief all round!!

The value of works to that point was in the order of $220,000. Of this, the principal sponsors and cash donors were Michael and Christine Kemp of Waeranga in the Waikato. Michael has written a book about his time through the Battle of Britain when he lived in Cleadon, Sutherland, County Durham, at the age of three, at the time when Sir Keith was commanding Group 11 fighters in the Battle of Britain.

The balance of funding was from a diverse number of cash donors, and significantly over a third of the total cost came from goods and services from local Thames and Kopu businesses. What an amazing effort! The names of donors are posted at the Thames Airfield alongside the Hurricane.

The Hurricane was ordered from GB Replicas in Norfolk, UK, in late 2019. GB Replicas had previously made a similar Hurricane for MOTAT in Auckland, and MOTAT themselves were extremely helpful in supporting us to get the project completed on time.

Contact was made with GB Replicas in February 2020 for a progress update and photos. The reply from Norfolk was that . . “the Hurricane has been finished and is ready for shipment” !! The response from Thames was . . “bother, we don’t have the funds yet” . . !! However, all was resolved, the funds were transmitted and the Hurricane duly arrived in Thames.

Hurricane, work in progress

Hurricane, completed and awaiting despatch in GB Replicas, Norfolk, UK

Installation of Hurricane at Thames Airfield, New Zealand