Latest news with #Spitfire
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Quality Radio trustee to fly Spitfire to raise funds
Norman Ross, a trustee of Quality Radio, will take on the challenge at Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, which was an RAF base during the Second World War. A lifelong fan of aircraft and the RAF, Norman sees the Spitfire challenge as a lifelong ambition. Read more: Children take on medical roles with Renfrewshire care home residents He said: 'When I was very young, born just after WW2, my father took me and my brother on days out to watch the aircraft at Abbotsinch, near Paisley, which was an RAF base that became HMS Sanderling in 1943. 'My brother joined the RAF and we lost him in 1975. 'I was always connected to Spitfires and the amazing sacrifice of the young men in the Battle of Britain. 'So, it has been my life challenge to fly a Spitfire.' The Spitfire that Norman will fly was built at Castle Bromwich in the Midlands in 1943 as an LF MK IXc. It entered service with 441 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving with the RAF. Its first operational sortie was flown on September 25, 1944, from advanced landing ground B70 in Belgium. Not content with just flying the plane, Norman also hopes to perform a Victory Roll in the Spitfire over the airfield. Through completing this challenge, he hopes to raise funds for Quality Radio Enterprise, a registered charity, to help them continue their work promoting the health and well-being of the community. You can support Norman and the Wellbeing Hub by donating online through JustGiving here: Read more: Theatre production inspired by herring trade coming to Paisley this autumn Norman said: 'Quality Radio engages with listeners, providing music therapy to those who may live alone, to hospitals, sheltered housing residents, and it also provides a Quality Wellbeing Hub for those who need help and advice. 'When I retired, I took the opportunity to learn to fly, and now I have the opportunity to fly an original Spitfire at Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, one of the main bases that saw so much action in WW2. 'Part of my challenge is to perform a Victory Roll, and I would hope that the people of Renfrewshire can support me by donating to help others at the Quality Wellbeing Hub for Renfrewshire.'
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Scottish museum with Dalí masterpiece and WW2 artefacts named second best in the world
Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery is the only museum with a better rating than the iconic Scottish institution. A museum in Scotland has been named one of the best-rated museums in the world. New research found the iconic institution had one of the lowest proportions of negative visitor reviews globally. The study, carried out by Radical Storage, analysed over 82,000 reviews of the 100 most-visited museums and galleries worldwide. It scored institutions on a ratio of positive to negative reviews, with a final rating out of 100. Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum scored an impressive 75.9, placing second in the global ranking just behind Washington D.C.'s National Portrait Gallery, which scored 76.9. Reviewers praised Kelvingrove's diverse collections, welcoming atmosphere, and stunning building. Just 3.5 per cent of reviews mentioned a negative experience. And more than half (53.8%) included positive language such as 'great', 'beautiful' or 'amazing'. These proportions mirror those of the top-ranked National Portrait Gallery. Opened in 1901 after beginning life as the City Industrial Museum, Kelvingrove underwent a £27.9million refurbishment that was completed in 2006. The investment clearly paid off. The museum now features 22 themed galleries and around 8,000 objects covering everything from natural history and weaponry to Impressionist art and Scottish design. Among its most famous exhibits are Salvador Dalí's celebrated painting, Christ of St John of the Cross; a World War II Spitfire suspended from the ceiling; and the much-loved taxidermy elephant, Sir Roger. The museum also offers hands-on experiences designed with families in mind, along with a café, restaurant and gift shop. The building itself, located in Glasgow's West End, is widely admired as an attraction in its own right. As well as its stunning architecture, the museum is brilliantly placed. The lush Kelvingrove Park is just minutes away and the Kelvin Walkway runs from the back of the museum along the pleasant river. Just a few minutes' walk in either direction you'll find the bustling area of Finniestion or Byres Road, the heart of the West End, both of which are filled with popular bars, restaurants, and shops. Tripadvisor reviewers have given Kelvingrove an average rating of 4.7 stars from nearly 16,000 reviews. One visitor wrote: 'Very nice museum… and the staff were very helpful, especially those in the shop, very attentive and knowledgeable.' Another added: 'So much to see. Plenty of interesting museum exhibits and a good art collection as well. Well worth a couple hours at least. And it's free entry!' Another reviewer highlighted the museum's wide appeal: 'There are many different rooms to see. There is all the Scottish wildlife with Sir Roger the elephant. The outside of the building is just as cool as the inside. Totally worth stopping at.' The study also highlighted Kelvingrove's efforts around diversity and inclusion. The museum received double the average mentions of diversity in reviews (1.2 percent compared to the global average of 0.5 percent), and double the mentions of friendliness (5 percent compared to 2.4 percent). Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Across all museums in the study, 50.6 percent of reviews were classed as positive, while 8.5 percent were negative. However, the data showed a gradual rise in negative feedback over the last decade, with 9.9 percent of reviews in 2024 expressing disappointment, nearly double the 5.3 percent seen in 2014. The least satisfying museum experience, according to the research, was the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., which scored just 7.5 out of 100. Only 35.3 percent of its reviews were positive, and over 15 percent were negative. The study noted that 17.7 percent of all negative terms used in reviews for that museum were simply the word 'dull', far above the average of 1.5 percent. Rank Museum City Country Study score out of 100 Most common positive phrase 1 National Portrait Gallery Washington, D.C. United States 76.9 Great 2 Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow United Kingdom 75.9 Great 3 National Museum of Korea Seoul South Korea 74.1 Great 4 Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Madrid Spain 73.8 Great 5 Palacio de Cristal del Retiro Madrid Spain 71.9 Beautiful 6 California Science Center Los Angeles United States 69.5 Great 7 National Folk Museum of Korea Seoul South Korea 65.2 Good 8 Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal Montreal Canada 62.1 Great 9 National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C. United States 56.1 Great 10 National Maritime Museum London United Kingdom 55.2 Great The world's top 10 most disappointing museums Rank Museum City Country Study score out of 100 Most common negative phrase 1 The National Air and Space Museum Washington, D.C. United States 7.5 Disappoint* 2 Science Museum London United Kingdom 8.2 Disappoint* 3 American Museum of Natural History New York City United States 8.7 Crowd* 4 Natural History Museum London United Kingdom 11.5 Crowd* 5 Grand Palais Paris France 11.7 Crowd* 6 Vatican Museums Vatican City, Rome Vatican City 12.2 Crowd* 7 The British Museum London United Kingdom 13.6 Crowd* 8 Louvre Museum Paris France 13.7 Crowd* 9 Museo Nacional del Prado Madrid Spain 14.2 Crowd* 10 Tate Modern London United Kingdom 14.3
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Partially sighted Yorkshire pensioner, 93, gets to fulfil lifelong dream
A Bawtry pensioner fulfilled his lifelong dream of 'barrel rolling' across the White Cliffs of Dover. Despite being partially-sighted, thrill seeker, Bob Coote, embarked on a remarkable journey to Biggin Hill in Kent to fulfil a lifelong dream: flying in a two-seater Spitfire. The 93 year-old, who now lives at William Bradford Court, Bawtry, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has been a passionate aircraft enthusiast since the days of the Battle of Britain. READ MORE: Three men rape teenage girls 'in most horrendous way' READ MORE: Boy seriously hurt after being electrocuted on Yorkshire farm Having grown up watching Spitfires return to base at Biggin Hill - performing victory rolls to signal successful missions - Bob said it was flight he 'had to do.' Bob said: "It was the flight of a lifetime." "I badly wanted to do a 'Victory Roll' over the airfield but they're now banned by the London flying control authorities. Keen to make the most of his once-in-a-lifetime flight, Bob said: "I still got in a couple of barrel rolls before making for base - and the drinks party with the friends who had cheered me on my way." His early fascination led Bob to join the local Air Cadets and later work as an airframe fitter with the 600 City of London Squadron - an experience that forged a lifelong connection with the iconic aircraft. Bob's adventure was made even more special by a warm welcome from Darren Dray, General Manager at Flyaspitfire, who described the visit as 'a homecoming of sorts' - given Bob's past work at Biggin Hill. Decades later, that connection came full circle when Bob took a one-hour flight from the Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill, choosing a route that traced the historic Kentish airfields of the Battle of Britain and included a breath-taking pass over the White Cliffs of Dover. Despite being partially sighted - it didn't stop Bob from 'thoroughly enjoying' the flight. Darren said: 'We aim to be as welcoming and inclusive as possible. The sound and smell of the flight are just as powerful as the view. For many people, those sensations are what truly bring the experience to life.' Get all the latest and breaking South Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.
BBC News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Two Spitfires and rare WW1 bomber to fly at historic aerodrome
Two different Spitfires and a rare World War One bomber are set to perform at a historic aerodrome over the course of a single aircraft will appear at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome - said to be the largest surviving WW1 aerodrome in the will host The Stow Maries Air Show on Saturday 23 August where one of the Spitfires will be joined by the only airworthy De Havilland DH-9 in the second Spitfire - part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - will perform at a second event a week later. 'Exciting' The LZ842 Spitfire is understood to be the only one of its kind still flying that was originally painted in desert the air show will also play host to a rare DH-9 aircraft - the E8894/G-CDLI - described as the only airworthy one of its type in the 30 August, the aerodrome will host its Back to the WW2 Farm event, when a second Spitfire will perform from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flint, the aerodrome's chief executive, described the events as "exciting".Stow Maries aerodrome was established in 1916 and played a key role in defending London from German Zeppelin received a lottery grant of £4.3m in 2017 for its restoration. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Scoop
21-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Rural Women New Zealand 100 Years Of Service
Past, Present and Future - The Rural Women New Zealand Centennial year For 100 years RWNZ, originally Women's Division of the Farmers Union, has been a force to reckon with, sometimes quietly and humbly, and sometimes with an audacious display of courage and lateral thinking. Always though, for the benefit of rural women and rural communities right across Aotearoa. New Zealand. As it marks 100 years of existence this year, and celebrates its Centennial, it will be stepping up its work to meet the needs of the next generation of rural women. It will be there to advocate; for health access and services, for connectivity, for safer rural roads, for education for rural students, for those areas where rural women and their communities are not as well served as their urban counterparts. Without the contribution of RWNZ the rural environment would look vastly different today. Not long after forming in 1925 the lack of access to health for rural communities led to the development of a programme where Bush Nurses on horse-back provided health care to remote areas. The organisation went on to create incredible health progammes through the decades. A legacy can be seen in the likes of Access Community Health, still providing services across the country today. In the 1940s members wanted to support the war effort. Within a month they'd raised 5,000 pounds to buy a Spitfire, the equivalent of around $630,000 in today's money. That energy and innovation is a recurring theme. In the early 80's members took to the streets and to the steps of Parliament to protest government reforms. Today, as well as advocacy, activities continue to include community fundraising, volunteering, business development, and generally getting stuck in when it's needed, including during adverse events. For 100 years Rural Women New Zealand has made a massive contribution to New Zealand, and they're not stopping.
