Spitfire fund nears $19,000

Press, 14 November 1984, Page 3

Spitfire fund nears $19,000

Almost $19,000 has been raised towards the replacement of the Spitfire replica which was burnt on its column outside the Brevet Club in Christchurch last month. The Brevet Club is seeking $30,000 to pay for the materials to make another replica. The first replica was made by Royal New Zealand Air Force volunteers at Woodbourne, and these servicemen have agreed to make another replica if the money for the materials can be found.

In exchange for making the first replica, the R.N.Z.A.F. kept the original aircraft, which formerly sat atop the pedestal . in Memorial Avenue. The plane will be restored and put on display in the musuem at Wigram. A club spokesman said yesterday that the public appeal for funds had so far netted almost $19,000, and the restoration fund committee hoped that more money would be raised at the variety show to be held at the. Theatre Royal on Saturday,, November 24. / , The "spokesman said' that approaches had been made in London to have Dame Vera Lyn appear as a guest at the show, but no confirmation had been received either way./< He said ihat club members had . been, upset by

claims that the aircraft should have been insured and that it could be replaced by a scale model. “The original Spitfire, being metal, was not flammable. It was an irreplaceable Object. We had had it for 20 years and there had been no attempt at vandalism. Most of us were unaware that the new one was flammable, “Because there had been no attempt at vandalism in those 20 years no consideration was given to the need to insure it. “It was put up as a definite memorial and we feel that unless we replace it we are denigrating those to whom it was dedicated,” the spokesman said. The new replica would be constructed of materials that were as fireproof as possible and it would also be equipped with alarms and heat-sensor devices, the spokesman said. The burnt-out replica left Wigram for Woodbourne on Monday. As it left, the base commander, Group Captain W. R. Donaldson, presented the. Brevet Club with a cheque on behalf of servicemen at Wigram. The club spokesman said it was for more than $l5OO. Contributions from the public to the restoration fund can be made at any branch of the Westpac bank, or posted tdthe club at P.O. Box 1434, Christchurch.