August 2024 Newsletter #12

Waxes from which the statue of ACM Sir Keith Park will be cast will be despatched to the foundry in the next couple of weeks;

A six-metre mural portrait of Sir Keith has been erected on the highway-facing end of the HAC Hangar at the Thames Airfield. This image is floodlit at night;

President Geoff Furkert has been invited to London for the unveiling 9th September at the RAF Club of new portraits of ACM Lord Dowding and ACM Sir Keith Park;

Thames Battle of Britain Commemorations start 11:00am Sunday 15th September at the Thames Airfield.

Joanne is putting the final touches on the waxes for the 2.3m bronze statue of Sir Keith, and these will be shipped to the foundry in the next couple of weeks. The fully finished, completed statue will arrive back in New Zealand in March next year.

Two options are under consideration as to how the statue will be best displayed before the inauguration under the Stage 1 Hurricane Fighter at the Thames Airfield – which will be a part of the Thames Battle of Britain Commemorations September 2024.

Local artist of note – Kylie Gunn – has recently completed a 6m-high mural portrait of Sir Keith. This was erected on the highway-facing end of the Hauraki Aero Club Hangar at the Thames Airfield Tuesday 13th August. The mural is floodlit at night, and looks amazing.

This has already resulted in hundreds of positive Facebook posts, and admiring feedback from locals and visitors. It will be a great hit at the forthcoming Battle of Britain Commemorations.

After the visit to Malta about this time last year, I had an invite to the RAF Club. Prue & I went there for lunch, after which we were shown around. Being totally disgusted at the lack of reference to SKP and his achievements, especially his leadership in winning the Battle of Britain in 1940, I made my concerns known to one of the managers.

Then about 6 weeks ago, I received an email to say that the Club’s Arts Committee had commissioned paintings of both ACM Lord Dowding and ACM Sir Keith Park.

These will hang, one either side of the existing portrait of Sir Winston Churchill in the Club’s main Reception Room.

I can’t imagine that this is all my doing, but I am taking licence to claim so!!!

I see this event as incredibly significant for New Zealand, and great recognition for our memorial project.

The upshot is the I have been invited to attend the Unveiling Ceremony at the RAF Club, and fly out 6th September, returning 12th. What a huge recognition and honour!

11:00am Sunday 15th September 2024.
Special guests in attendance include:

• Mayor Len
• Hon. Scott Simpson
• RN Commander Richard Greenwood-Bell
• RNZAF GptCapt Mike Cannon
• Lesley Park, grand-niece of Sir Keith
• Sculptor Joanne Sullivan

Spread the word, and I look forward to seeing you there.

Funds are still needed to get the memorial project to the finish line.

Please help with a donation – to whatever extent you can.
The banking details are on our “Support” page.