The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust (ABCT) – Britain’s, and almost certainly the world’s, first national airfield charity – have kindly donated a plaque to honour Gosberton Airfield. This has now been placed near the Gosberton Risegate War Memorial. The plaque is the 100th to be provided by ABCT.
ABCT is now fully underway with a massive one-off scheme to honour Britain’s World War One Home Defence fighter Flight Stations and landing grounds (such as Gosberton) which played a major part in winning the conflict.
The memorials are made of Indian granite, recognised as the best material of its type in the world. ABCT plan to erect many hundreds of them at disused airfields across Britain - no less than Prince Philip unveiled one of the more recent examples.
There is considerable national and international interest in what the charity is generally achieving, not only through creating memorials and saving airfields but greatly helping people and society for the benefit of all in a wide variety of ways; various enquiries have confirmed significant interest in both historical and tourism terms. Their highly acclaimed 3,000 page website alone has proved remarkably successful, being presently one of Britain’s top 100,000 most popular and with confirmed in-depth visits from over 180 foreign countries. General public feedback has proved most favourable e.g. their logo was even included in a noted book along with others for such huge firms as Shell, Nike and Apple, while ABCT has established various strong links with various phenomenally prominent businesses such as the makers of the Harry Potter firms, again through the memorial unveilings.
Therefore, for all of these above reasons, it is hugely beneficial for all concerned to have a plaque dedicated to Gosberton Airfield. This surprisingly important place has won a World War, helped saved lives and allowed the freedom we now take for granted, revolutionised everyday society for the better and now enables people to operate in an excellent environment, so is morally more than due proper and immediate recognition.
Please do also bear in mind that – never mind how the WW1 generation has now tragically completely left us - 300 WW2 veterans are dying in Britain every day, plus at least 800 in America, hence just at sheer human level this matter of airfield memorials is of the gravest urgency.
Gosberton Parish Council are very grateful to have been donated the plaque and feel very honoured to have the plaque laid at the Gosberton Risegate War Memorial along with the Silent Soldier Airman, in readiness for the First World War Centenary Celebrations this November. Thanks also go to District Councillor Jane King for the donation of the Silent Soldiers purchased for both Gosberton Risegate and Gosberton.