Nottinghamshire – Hidden Gems

Earlier this week I was over at Newark for a further follow up meeting regarding the World War I displays that NAM is preparing.

Out of those discussions we gained a fascinating insight into the artefacts / family archive that were mentioned in the posts above. These spanned a period of time from World War I right through to the 1970s and Rolls-Royce at Hucknall.

The Gibson family have just sent through the following weblink www.aviationarchive.co.uk that I felt was worthwhile sharing.

There are still many items to be added to the website. Some of the items and wider family story will be incorporated into NAM’s small object displays in the coming weeks and months.

Enjoy! 🙂

I’ve now received a fascinating follow up contact regarding the RFC / early RAF contact that was mentioned above.

This has yielded a stunning collection of stories and photographs of two Nottingham airmen from World War I and beyond.

Types featured photographically include: HP 0/400; HP V/1500; Blackburn Kangaroo; Horsley (record attempt airframe); Fokker D7 captured by 103 Squadron; Rolls-Royce Hawk powered balloon gondola etc. etc.

All of a sudden NAM’s World War I and inter-war years displays have stepped up a gear; and some of the accompanying lecture texts may appear in the members’ newsletter!

Just back from a fascinating day at County Hall, which saw some interesting items brought in for the ‘experts’ to look at; including some items from a forumite! 🙂

A couple of RFC related items saw me co-opted in to try and assist the owners with some research suggestions.

The second of these, was the last set of items to be brought in to the event (very late in the day) and they were of particular interest to me – mainly because I Knew the person that they items belonged to! Whilst I knew that one of his grandfathers’ was heavily involved in engine and airframe testing at Rolls-Royce – I knew nothing of his other grandfather’s time in the RFC / early RAF.

His grandfather went to RAF Cranwell in summer 1918 and he had kept all of his flying logs, diaries, service photographs and a host of family related items – an absolutely wonderful collection that tells the story of a young man from Nottingham who learnt to fly just over the county border in Lincolnshire.

Amongst the items were a wealth of local references including: overflying Newark, Nottingham, Spittlegate and the aerodrome at Leadenham.; a forced landing at Metheringham; going back to Metheringham the following day to collect the aircraft; being “bored” at waiting for the weather to clear so they could fly again, etc. etc. – a stunning personal story of an 18 year-old flyer!!

A quick bump for this ‘do’ tomorrow – hope to see some of you at County Hall!

I’m at the event all day, you’ll have to come over and have a word.

NAM’s got more involved through Experience Nottinghamshire and the County Council. It’s slowly getting its World War I offering together as mentioned in this news item and also in this one.

I’m bringing along a hand-carved scale model of a Bristol F.2B Fighter, which is one of several similar models that will form part of NAM’s World War I display next year. These are amongst 50 or so accessed World War I items in NAM’s care.

I’ll also have a PowerPoint display running that features Capt Albert Ball VC and Sqn Ldr C Browne; plus items from the NAM Archive.

I’ve got some ww1 stuff so will pop along.Thanks howard