Military History [1]: Spitfire and helicopter flights are welcomed by majority of villagers in Capel-le-Ferne [2]
Posted by editor on Nov 15, 2011 - 12:05 AM
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Dear Editor,
I would like to add my my comments in full agreement of all Mr
Woodsford wrote in his letter published in the Folkestone Herald last
week. |
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SPITFIRE IS A JOY
Dear Sir
“Seeing and hearing the rather sad lady who appeared on BBC TV on 27
October complaining about the Spitfire and accompanying helicopters that
fly over our village in the summer has prompted this letter.
I feel a degree of sadness and some anger over her comments as her views
are not shared by the majority of the villagers. The lady obviously did
not reside in this area during the Second World War and fails to
understand the affection and nostalgia those of us who did have for the
Spitfire and the brave young men who flew them, many of whom gave their
lives for our freedom.
As a schoolboy, my best friend and I would often walk up to RAF Hawkinge to view the Spitfires and Hurricanes and spent many an hour sitting
where the Battle of Britain site is now watching the dogfights overhead
and the shipping being shelled in the Channel.
The sound of the Merlin engine is a joy to a great number of people and
the Spitfire is welcome to fly over my bungalow as many weekends as they
wish, perhaps the lady in question might reflect that the Spitfires
played a large part in giving her the right to complain.
Peter Woodsford”
I believe I speak for many residents in Capel-le-Ferne, and that it is just
a minority who are complaining
The rest of us thoroughly enjoy seeing
the Spitfire and helicopter flying over us.
It is only 6 weekends a year
after all, and great for our village, and the Battle of Britain
Memorial, putting us on the map.
Why is it always the minority who spoil things for the majority?
Jenny Barraclough
Capel-le-Ferne Resident
Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast
News 2011©
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Comments
I have to agree with Jenny that the sight and sound of a Spitfire over the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel is a wonderful experience. It is a truly wonderful and peaceful place for reflection.
I also have some sympathy with nearby residents, who are at odds with the ‘Fly with a Spitfire’ experience. Ironically, it the noise from the accompanying helicopters which drowns out the very sound of the Spitfire which the passengers hope to experience, for those on the ground as well as onboard the helicopter.
As someone involved in organising the 2013 air show in Folkestone I expect we will get some people who will resent the noise and disturbance. I have to say we plan to fly over the Capel memorial as a mark of respect to the airmen who gave their lives in the skies above and whose names are etched into the memorial itself.
This will be just one day in the year however. The ‘Fly with a Spitfire’ experience is a commercial enterprise and helicopters are very noisy. I don’t see why they cannot use a light aircraft based at either Lydd or Headcorn to fly alongside the Spitfire, which might be more fitting in the context of the times.
With a bit of common sense and consideration, I am sure a solution can be found by carefully re-arranging the flightpath for minimum noise.
It is the memory of the Battle of Britain which should be uppermost in our minds, especially in this week of Remembrance … and if the Spitfire experience can rekindle that memory then it should be supported.
CJ
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