PETITION HAND-IN:DOWNING ST 24/10

Dear All….I thought you might enjoy a read of the Press Release from last Friday’s visit to Downing Street. All media can be viewed on the http://www.save-concorde.co.uk Forum…..best regards Steve

SAVE CONCORDE: PRESS RELEASE: 21/10/04:PR1

It is almost a year since Concorde, the world’s first supersonic airliner, made its last commercial flight, but one group is campaigning to preserve this unique technology.

The Save Concorde Group are working to return at least one Concorde to flight for heritage. They have attracted support from the public, MPs, former Concorde crew and celebrities, and have been featured on television and radio across the UK.

Tomorrow, to coincide with the first anniversary of the British Concordes’ retirement from active service, they will be handing in a petition of over 20,000 signatures to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

Among those expected to attend this event are former Concorde flight crew including Christopher Orlebar, Concorde captain and author of The Concorde Story, and Ian Kirby, Senior Flight Officer. Other guests include Baroness Ludford MEP and Roger Helmer MEP.

A staunch supporter of the group who is unable to attend is Sir Terence Conran, who has sent a personal message of support to the Save Concorde Group chairman Ross Mallett.

Sir Terence said: “I wish you every success with the Save the Concorde Group and applaud your efforts to get at least one Concorde flying again.

“A petition of over 20,000 signatures only begins to illustrate the level of support there is, not only in the UK, but also throughout the world. We should treat our industrial design heritage in a similar way to our architectural heritage – Concorde should be a Grade 1 listed monument, not left forgotten to rot in a God forsaken air hangar. “The amount required to keep it in the air is modest by today’s standards and to see it fly again would be a great symbol of Britain’s
design heritage and its future. “Good luck with the campaign.”

The day will begin with a rally in Downing Street at 10.00 am. The petition will be handed in at 2.00 pm. Later, from 7.00 to 9.00 pm, there will be a private view of an exhibition at 80 Strand (the Shell-Mex building), comprising work devoted to Concorde.

For further information on the group, please see our website: http://www.save-concorde.co.uk.

If you have any queries, please contact the Chairman, Ross Mallett: [email]rossmallett@save-concorde.co.uk[/email]