Spalding and South Lincolnshire branch of the Western Front Association have had a busy 2023.
The year commenced with our AGM at which we bid a fond farewell to our chairman of long-standing John Chester.
John handed over to new chairman, Paul Berry, and new speaker secretary, Peter Garland.
The branch has enjoyed a year of excellent talks on subjects ranging from memorialisation to myths, to the development of the lorry during the Great War All delivered in our new venue of Spalding Baptist Church.
In June we took a tour of local memorials and places of interest with a connection to the Great War including RFC landing grounds.
In August we undertook our traditional Saturday day out to places further afield. In this case to memorials, churches, and the RFC/RAF base of Collyweston and WW2 8th Air Force airfields at RAF Deenethorpe and RAF Polebrook in Northamptonshire.
Our tour also took in the historic ruins of Fotheringhay Castle, birthplace of Richard III in 1452 and site of the horrifically botched execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, in The Great Hall on February 8, 1587.
It is said William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, tricked Elizabeth into signing Mary’s death warrant by hiding it amongst more mundane state papers.
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and All Saints sits in the centre of the village. Well worth a visit, the interior boasts a memorial to the men of the USAAF who flew from RAF Polebrook.
Returning to the subject of WWI, we also visited the very fine memorial in Oundle.
If you live within easy travelling distance of Spalding, we do encourage you to join our small band of brothers and sisters, who meet on the fourth Thursday of each month.
We have a great programme of interesting talks lined up for 2024, and you will be made very welcome.
Peter Garland
Speaker Secretary
