REFLECTING ON LANCASTER FLYPASTS OVER BRIGG

Something we miss in late August is watching the Lancaster bomber come over Brigg on its way to making a flypast at the former RAF Elsham Wold bomber base where a service and reunion were taking place.
We usually went to the public footpath that runs from Churchill Avenue and over the fields to Wrawby to watch the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster come over from its base at RAF Coningsby.
Listening to the distinctive noise made by its famous engines was as enjoyable as watching The Lanc - still in flying condition after all these years.
It is one of "The Few" to quote war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill's legendary speech, though he was talking about fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain in 1940.
One one memorable occasion we were attending a major family event at Elsham Hall's wedding venue and viewed the Lancaster at close quarters as it circled the village's former base. We saw it side on as it went over Elsham Hall. Quite a sight!
Many RAF servicemen and women were with us that day, which added to the significance of the flypast.
While a Brigg-based reporter with the Lincolnshire & South Humberside Times newspaper in the early 1980s we were honoured to meet, and interview, some former RAF Elsham Wold bomber crew survivors who made nostalgic trips back to Elsham, some of them being from Canada. Occasionally we accompanied the vets to Elsham, on what's now the industrial estate.
We also wrote about events organised by the RAF Elsham Wolds Association over many years, particularly its annual reunions. See link here...
It's now 74 years since the Second World War ended and and Elsham's bombers flew their last combat missions.
We also worked alongside Edward Dodd at the Lincs Times. Ted, who lived on St Helens Road, had served at RAF Elsham during the war on ground crew duties as a carpenter/rigger.
During many happy summers spent playing Sunday and midweek games for Brocklesby Park Cricket Club, we used to visit the Marrowbone and Cleaver in nearby Kirmington after matches for a drink with the opposition.
There was also a WW2 bomber base at Kirmington - now the site of Humberside Airport - and we liked to look at the pictures of former bomber crews on display at the village pub.
However, we never managed to spot famous actor Donald Pleasence, whose flew from Kirmington, only to be shot down over 'Flak Alley' but survived to become a prisoner of war.
One of his most famous roles was in epic war film The Great Escape, set in a PoW camp. He was ideally qualified for the role!
Donald lived in Scunthorpe as a youngster, his father having a management role at the local railway station.
Here's a link to the BBMF's schedule of events for 2019, featuring its Lancaster, Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota. Well worth a look, it demonstrates the planes' continuing popularity well into the 21st century.
ABOVE: A picture by Ken Harrison, of Brigg Matters Magazine, showing the Lancaster over Elsham a few years ago.