Spitfire at Car Saleroom Stourbidge 1970s

SM411 outside Meteor Ford in 1972

Thanks for the ‘heads-up’ about Bygones – I wonder who supplied Mr Smart with the material for that? 😉

If you live in the nottingham area you can pop into your news agent and buy the “Bygones” this week and inside you will find an excellent feature on the museum from its early days up to the present day.

……….All these comments by HP111 surely point towards an FSM. John B (at various times owner of several BoB FSMs thinks he may have loaned one out in that area and is digging his files. I will report back if he is able to confirm…….

As I suspected both the Spitfire and Hurricane FSMs are featured in the ‘Site 1 – 1974 to 1976’ album on the Museum Gallery page here, plus if you look closely at the aerial view of the Newark Site photograph you can even see the 109 FSM!

Actually it was at Southam near Banbury, i went to see Bill, must have been around 1982, i remember him telling me he wanted £100k for TB836 ! if only we could turn the clock back !

Jules

Different times, of course.

Remember, an airworthy Mosquito sold for £100k at Strathallan in 1981.

That Spit was a bitsa kit.

Thanx Ju for clarification…..30 years ago!!!

i Have TB863’s clipped wing tip in my collection…..I remember Julian (who is on this site!) went to see Bill and the Spit in Southend in the early 80s. He came back with some spit stuff for his project and a nice Hurri column. I photographed TB863 just after she was bought by Stephen Grey and moved to Booker and PPS. His MkIX was just finishing her restoration there.

Seeing Mk12’s post….must have been 1979/80 when Ju went to Southend

Actually it was at Southam near Banbury, i went to see Bill, must have been around 1982, i remember him telling me he wanted £100k for TB836 ! if only we could turn the clock back !

Jules

Thank you for the update Martin,much appreciated.

Regret to advise that Mr Francis passed away about 5 years ago, but his neice is going to ask the family for any history of his ownership of the Spitfire especially with regards to its move back to the West Midlands.

Mr Francis’ neice is unsure whether the (real) Spitfire was ever at the garage; she thinks that it was kept at or near his home at all times.

i Have TB863’s clipped wing tip in my collection…..I remember Julian (who is on this site!) went to see Bill and the Spit in Southend in the early 80s. He came back with some spit stuff for his project and a nice Hurri column. I photographed TB863 just after she was bought by Stephen Grey and moved to Booker and PPS. His MkIX was just finishing her restoration there.

Seeing Mk12’s post….must have been 1979/80 when Ju went to Southend

Thanks Martin re your post 25,in answer to my question.

Regret to advise that Mr Francis passed away about 5 years ago, but his neice is going to ask the family for any history of his ownership of the Spitfire especially with regards to its move back to the West Midlands.

Thanks Martin re your post 25,in answer to my question.

BR – I’ve not spoken to him since the autumn but I know no different.

Roger Smith.

Roger, is Barry still running WoW? (Side question sorry)

Begs the question now,is Bill Francis still with us and what year would that photo of him have been taken?

Don’t know, but I do know his neice; will ask.

…..
All these comments by HP111 surely point towards an FSM. John B (at various times owner of several BoB FSMs thinks he may have loaned one out in that area and is digging his files. I will report back if he is able to confirm.
…..
Roger Smith.

I am happy to be advised either way. At this distance in time I just don’t remember enough about it.

RPS – thank you for your insight on the Meteor Ford site, which certainly answers NAM’s Object of the Week question. 🙂

I suspect that in next week’s ‘NAM 40th Anniversary Photo Gallery’ at least one of John B’s FSM’s will be featured – perhaps of the Hurricane kind!! 😉

Sorry taken so long to add my tuppence worth – have been making enquiries (well, one actually) in the direction of John Berkeley.

“There was no engine, the propellor was rigged on a pole, panels were badly fitted, there were missing parts and the cockpit canopy was makeshift….” and ” a flat substitute canopy and as I recall some rudimentary fake exhausts….”

All these comments by HP111 surely point towards an FSM. John B (at various times owner of several BoB FSMs thinks he may have loaned one out in that area and is digging his files. I will report back if he is able to confirm.

As regards the Meteor – to try and keep the story brief – Meteor Ford sponsored our (Midland Aircraft Preservation Society) first move of EE531 (from RAE Lasham). Purchased for £175 from MoD by means of member loans we had nowhere to put it, and it travelled the UK widely by road before the Midland Air Museum was eventually established at Coventry Airport.

Funny though I don’t remember there also being a Spitfire on display at Meteor Ford at the same time as the Meteor – but my memory never has been good!!

Roger Smith.

Looks like around Stowe Drive to me. Well I never!

I see from an old address book the business was ‘Flight Service Station’, Coventry Road, Southam.

Mark

Looks like around Stowe Drive to me. Well I never!