Hi all! I was working up near Liverpool Airport a few weeks back and as usual, stayed over at the Crowne Plaza hotel there . . was shocked to see their Rapide had disappeared from the front of the hotel – only to find it round the back looking very sorry for itself :apologetic: apparently it came off worst in the high winds over the recent months . . stored awaiting a decision on whether to restore or not was the word in the hotel . . .
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By: Arabella-Cox - 14th May 2014 at 23:00
Yes, wood, steel and polystyrene – with a fabric covering.
The Replica has been deteriorating for some time with the hotel taking a sticking-plaster approach to its repair almost since its installation over 12 years ago. When pieces started coming off in last winter’s high winds then they realised that zero hour had arrived. Further prevarication followed then a final decision, made at a senior level meeting, voted 3-2 against paying for a refurb.
Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group are hoping (and have been told) that the replica will be handed over to them and they can then decide whether to restore it at their own expense or not. The cheeky hotel then asked “so, when you’ve done it, will you put it back out the front of the hotel?”
So, saga still ongoing. There have been quite a few comments since it disappeared from the front of the hotel from people wondering where it has gone. We’re hoping that, eventually, some scheme and a compromise can be reached and the replica will go back out front once again. It is a popular South Liverpool landmark and a fair few of us were sad to have to see it go.
Watch this space – but, if past experience is anything to go by, don’t expect anything to happen soon. It is still owned by the hotel so we/SAHG can’t or won’t touch it until ownership is transferred.
Anon.
By: David Burke - 14th May 2014 at 18:45
More wood and steel ! -It’s not built using the GRP Spitfire principles -I am sure Mike will be along shortly who can give chapter and verse!
By: Mike J - 14th May 2014 at 15:34
A shame, but you do realise that it is not a Rapide as such, but a Rapide-shaped piece of fibreglass?
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May 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm