This is an open invitation to all of you. Many of you are familiar with the Johnny Wiseman story by now, and my attempt to raise a memorial for him. The memorial plans are going ahead, and are just about finalised. The stone has been ordered (1 metre above-ground height, 40 cm wide, and 10 cm deep), The plaques have been ordered (2 engraved brass plaques, measuring 20 x 30 cm), the flypast is agreed to (they asked what I wanted, I didn’t know how to answer that – ideas? its Jaguars from 41 Squadron at Coltishall. Missing man? Flypast and vertical break?). The ceremony is in the final stages of planning – although I have yet to sort a ‘padre’, – and things are all coming together.
So, you are all invited. Therefore, to consider it, you need to know where and when.
The ceremony will be on Monday 14th July. This will be 60 years and 6 months after the loss of Johnny Wiseman and ‘Babe’ Haddon. It is also the day after Duxford Flying Legends, which is not a massive distance away. The ceremony will be in Martham, Norfolk. This is near Great Yarmouth, in the heart of the Broads. It was planned for this date as there are 609 Typhoon pilots attending the Duxford show for the launch of ‘609 at War’ – a photographic record of the Squadron, on which my input was a year of at least 6 hours work a day, scanning and restoring battered images. I have seen the pre-production copy, and thoroughly recommend that you all go and buy one off the Vector Fine-arts stand. Its £20, you can get a bunch of signatures, and its limited to 609 copies. (Incidentally, I get no payment, royalties or anything, so this isn’t a sales pitch to line my own pocket! It’s a unique book, and a unique opportunity). Its doubtful, however, that any 609’ers will be attending my ‘do’ as 3 days away is a lot of planning for octogenarians. We’ll see. Johnny’s sister and Babe’s brother, however, will hopefully both be there. I haven’t decided on a time for certain, as I need to check with Coltishall – but I’m thinking around either 11 or 2. Any preference?
Now, for those of you who require accommodation on the Sunday night, I’ll recce somewhere this weekend, in Lowestoft, that’s advertising for £15 a night. Its over a pub, but should be ok. If you want a Travelodge, or somewhere posh, I can sort that out too. What I suggest is we can all go out for a meal. So, if you wish to stay the Sunday night, PM me and I’ll sort it out. If you just want to attend the memorial unveiling, PM me as well – I need an idea of numbers for refreshments and so on. I’m sure it would be really appreciated by Betty and Ron. It certainly will by me.
I look forward to seeing you there!
By: Snapper - 13th July 2003 at 23:36
The bottom plaque
By: Snapper - 13th July 2003 at 23:22
The top plaque.
By: Snapper - 13th July 2003 at 23:19
Thanks Ashley – it truly does! Wait until tomorrow girl, then you’ll be impressed.
To continue the John Wiseman and Alan Haddon story, I now have, on video from this morning, the memories of them recounted by Cheval Lallemand, Joe Atkinson and Pinkie Stark – 3 of the 4 surviving members of the squadron still alive who served with them. I have been extremely privileged to have been in the company of a dozen 609’ers all weekend, and am humbled.
At 08:35 tomorrow a.m. yours truly is on Radio Norfolk to talk about Johnny and Babe – tune in if you can – and if anyone can tape it, I would be very pleased to get a copy.
And please, at 11 am tomorrow, bow your heads for a two minute silence, as the RAF Jaguars fly over our heads in tribute.
By: Ashley - 11th July 2003 at 13:54
~Bumping this back up to the top of the forum~
Have just bumped into Mark (Snapper) and seen the first pics of the Memorial…it looks absolutely fantastic 🙂
We have problems uploading pics here at work (we cannot download all the necessary bits and pieces to do it – p*** firewall) Will try and work round it this afternoon though…so watch this space 🙂
Ashley
By: Snapper - 11th July 2003 at 00:39
Well, lets see what the Great Yarmouth Mercury and Lowestoft Journal (and perhaps the EDP) chose to do tomorrow.
Perhaps a nice spread on Johnny Wiseman and Alan Haddon’s memorial do on Monday at Grange Farm, Martham (10:30 am)?
Followed by more of the same next week perhaps?
And a Radio Norfolk telephone interview with yours truly about it all on Monday’s breakfast show (7-9 am? Are they sane?)
The gist being that I want as many people as possible to come and honour the sacrifice of two ordinary guys aged 20 and 23 who are having a memorial unveiled to their memory, with a 41 Sqdn jaguar flypast, an RAF Chaplain, RAFA, RBL, ACA, FOWM, 609 sqdn and 609 Sqdn Association representatives.
Ahem. Shameless plug. My apologies. Thats 10:30am just past the A149 / B1152 junction.
By: dhfan - 11th July 2003 at 00:33
Can’t make it myself but sincerely hope all goes well and as planned.
Ken
By: Snapper - 9th July 2003 at 14:14
Nice one Steve! The camcorder is a very welcome bonus. I will be submitting pix and article to Flypast (amongst many other publications) so no worries.
See you on the day.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th July 2003 at 12:47
Mark, I presume our forum hosts will also be covering the event so they can cover Johnny and Babe’s ceremony in a future edition, and giving the day the wider audience it deserves?
Hope to meet up with some of you at Legends on Sunday, and also at Martham for the day itself. I do have a camcorder, which I’ll certainly bring, but it’s a bit temperamental and has a habit of draining the battery at a very swift rate.
By: Snapper - 9th July 2003 at 00:01
I could have sworn i’d put the times down. Oh well – theres so many things to do!
Assemble at 10:30, move off shortly after, flypast at 11, then the remainder of the service (an hour tops) before tea and coffee on the lawn. All very civilised.
A question – has anyone who is coming got a camcorder by any chance? I can get one, but I need at least two – preferably 3. Idea is 1 on a tripod recording a wide view, one focused on the lectern, and one hand held to capture the parade and aircraft.
Chris – EDP hopefully, but definately Yarmouth Mercury and probably Lowestoft Journal.
By: kev35 - 8th July 2003 at 23:24
Mark.
“She asked me how I felt to have done this and so on. I didn’t know what to say curiously. All I could come up with was one word.
Privileged.”
That just about says it all.
Having seen your Order of Service and your plans for Monday it is going to be an emotional and fitting tribute to just two of the many thousands who gave their lives. By honouring them we honour them all. The simple phrase “Lest We Forget” has never had more meaning.
Regards,
kev35
By: Yak 11 Fan - 8th July 2003 at 23:05
Is it in the EDP Snapper, if so I’ll have to get a copy
By: Snapper - 8th July 2003 at 23:00
Being one of those insomniacs, at 2 a.m. I emailed all the local press – with loads of pix, press release and request for the story to be run on Friday.
And FINALLY I spoke to the infamous Amy!!!!
So, the story is running definately in one, probably in 2, hopefully in 3, and possibly in 5 papers this Friday, with follow-ups next week in the form of a report on the do.
She asked me how I felt to have done this and so on. I didn’t know what to say curiously. All I could come up with was one word.
Privileged.
By: Snapper - 8th July 2003 at 02:08
A letter from the Air Ministry to Babe Haddon’s father.
By: Snapper - 8th July 2003 at 02:04
Johnny with a Harvard in Canada.
By: Snapper - 8th July 2003 at 02:03
Babe and Alan with Typhoon PR-Z
By: Tom_W - 7th July 2003 at 20:17
Cheers mate, I’m quite looking forward to it as you can tell 😉 I’ve jotted down yer moby No so I’ll give you a ring when the time comes, I’ll be there on the day with the best weather:D If we didn’t have as much work on as we’ve got at the mo I’d take the day off but we’ve got a Jungmann in which the owner wants asap, you know what it’s like 😉 Have a beer on me anyway.
Tom.
By: Snapper - 5th July 2003 at 11:16
Alan and Ron.
By: Snapper - 5th July 2003 at 11:14
John and Betty.
By: Snapper - 5th July 2003 at 11:03
Hi Tom, can’t really arrange a time as such, as it is going to be a very busy weekend – but I’ve told Jim that you are coming and would like a chat and will show him some pics. All will be well. Alternatively, we will be up there on the Friday afternoon if you are around. My mobile number is 07905 850671 if anyone needs it.
Aren’t you suffering from an illness on the Monday…..?!
By: Tom_W - 4th July 2003 at 22:18
Cheers for the info mate, I’ll print off some piccies of the spit for him so he can see what progress is being made. Can’t wait to speak to him, could we arrange a time as I doubt he’ll want me to interrupt the signing session to yap about spits etc when there’s people with prints to sign.
Tom.
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June 6, 2003 at 11:22 am