the queen

World War II veteran sheds tears at Bomber Command memorial unvileing

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Published July 6, 2012, in Other News

FITTING TRIBUTE – The Queen unveils the stunning Bomber Command memorial in London

FITTING TRIBUTE – The Queen unveils the stunning Bomber Command memorial in London

SECOND World War veteran Bill Moore admitted he was ‘moved to tears’ during last week’s unveiling of the new £6 million Bomber Command memorial in London.

The former airman – who took part in top secret Special Operations Executive missions during the conflict – joined fellow RAF veterans to watch The Queen dedicate the memorial and pavilion at Green Park on Thursday.

Mr Moore, 89, of Ebbage Court, Mount Hermon Road, Woking, said Philip Jackson’s 9ft-high bronze sculpture of seven Lancaster bomber airmen housed inside, was “100 per cent complete in every detail”.

He added: “Anybody who flew during that period would have been taken back in time. The statue was 100 per cent complete right down to the buckles on the uniforms and the flying books.”

“It brought me to tears, remembering things and the fact that members of Bomber Command were being honoured after 68 years. I’m not ashamed of it.”

Bomber Command controlled the RAF bombing forces from 1936 until 1968.

Its precision raids on Germany’s industrialised Ruhr Valley played a major part in winning the war and ending Nazi tyranny but led to heavy civilian casualties.

Mr Moore, a senior member of the Bomber Command Association, travelled to London by train with his friend and former Spitfire bomber pilot Ernie Taylor, Cold War pilot Tony Boxall, ex-Fleet Air Arm serviceman Gordon Appleby and Canadian Kerr Boxall, who has raised ‘great donations’ for the memorial fund.

The Black Cabs Association of London laid on a free taxi service for RAF veterans and their families from the major train stations to Green Park.

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force entertained guests for two hours before the memorial was dedicated to the 55,573 Bomber Command lives lost in the war.

Mr Moore said he was proud to honour former Air Chief Marshal ‘Bomber Harris.’

He said: “Bomber Harris was our boss and we honour him. He was given the authority by the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Chief of the Air Staff and Air Ministry.

“We feel at long last that we have managed to have a memorial. It has been hard work raising money for it and we have had many, many friends who have supported us over the years.”

Afterwards, Mr Moore and other guests met The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Edward.

Mr Moore had earlier met the Lord Mayor of London at a reception held by the City of London Corporation at London’s Guildhall the previous evening.

Woking residents out in their thousands to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

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Published June 8, 2012, in Headlines

SUITS YOU, SIR - Matt Cobb with his greyhounds sporting Jubilee cravats

SUITS YOU, SIR - Matt Cobb with his greyhounds sporting Jubilee cravats

IT was a weekend none of us will ever experience again. Street ­closures were rejoiced. The weather was not an issue. The Queen was ­celebrating 60 years on the throne and Woking was in the mood to party.

In Chobham a red, white and blue wave of people washed through the high street.

Horsell crowned its ­Jubilee weekend with a collection of hats that Her ­Majesty would have felt at home in.

While hundreds of picnickers ­savoured this historic moment on Byfleet village recreation ground.

A regal parade, fronted by a stirring marching band, hit the right note with revellers at ­Pirbright Green.

In Ripley, hundreds watched on as the Diamond Jubilee beacon was lit on the village green. And Pat Baker, born in the year of The Queen’s coronation, unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

In total, 48 roads were lawfully closed for residents to take their parties to the street.

The Queen is the physical embodiment of all that is great about us and our country

And there were hundreds of impromptu gatherings tucked away in the borough’s streets, as friends, families and neighbours ­enjoyed a right royal knees up.

A sing off and ­Wellington boot ­throwing competition was held at Maitland Close, West ­Byfleet.

Champion ­thrower James Post, 38, said: “Celebrating a ­Jubilee is very unique.

“There will not be a day like this again for a very long time so we should take the time to enjoy it.”

Residents of Lincoln Drive, Pyrford, received the shock of their lives when the Mayor of ­Woking, Michael Smith, arrived with Mayoress Anne Murray and joined in their ­Jubilee bash.

Freda Spickett, 84, of Send, toasted Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 and remembered it being very similar to her Diamond Jubilee. She said: “It was wet and very cold that day, too.”

As The Queen marked her 60th year as head of the monarchy, villagers gathered on the green to celebrate her outstanding achievement.

A rousing marching band led a parade of patriotism, with young and old decked in their finest royal-themed fancy dress, with red, white and blue the order of the day.

Cunningham House retirement home residents decorated two golf buggies to join in the action before everyone tucked into a mouth-watering lamb roast.

Laura McMurniman, 25, who grew up in the village and was married in St Michael & All Angels church last summer, said: “It’s great how so many different generations are involved.

“My whole family being here made my dad so happy – he was actually born in the village.

“I know she was really busy but I’m sure The Queen would have loved seeing everyone enjoying themselves.”

Laura’s husband Sheldon, 30, added: “Pirbright is the quintessential British village.

“The community spirit and ‘tally- ho’ attitude really does epitomise everything we are celebrating this weekend.

“The Queen is the physical embodiment of all that is great about us and our country.

“Even the cricketers were out and about gearing up to try and get some overs in despite the rain.”