Frampton Avocets

The Avocet is back at Frampton.  A beautiful wader, it returns from the Exe estuary where it winters to spend the summer months on the Lagoons of Frampton Marsh.

Since it's return to the UK in the 1940's it's numbers have been steadily increasing.  There are approximately 877 breeding birds in the UK though about 7500 winter in the UK.  It's also the symbol for the RSPB.

Here are some pics of this special Wader i took this week..

It's colours of black and white are unmistakable together with it's upwards tilting beak

Doing what Waders do...wading!
A lovely spring morning at Frampton

A series of shots showing an Avocet in flight...coming in to land on one of the Lagoons..

  

 

 

Alone on my island...

Three Avocets, one Redshank and a Coot...all getting on famously!

Avocets are very sociable...here five happily mingle 

Though here it was a case of "shoo"!  

viewed from beneath, the Avocet appears all white with just the black wingtips visible 

The unmistakable side profile...  

When resting they rest on one leg... 

Here there was 30+ showing they are happy on their own or as part of a larger group

RAF Scampton - the Dambusters part 2

This board is on the wall in Gibsons office and details the crews involved in the raid.  Those with a poppy next to their name indicates that they never returned..

The museum is housed over many rooms.  Each room is full of memorabilia.  This is a very detailed metal model of a Lancaster allowing you to see the inside of the aircraft..

Even the pilots are very detailed!

This model is based on 'Q' for 'Queenie' which had many successful missions behind her.

This particular room is dedicated to all things Red Arrows.  

There is much to see..

The museum also has a chapel..this is a very peaceful room..the wonderful mosaic window nods towards Guy Gibson and Nigger as well as the other Squadrons based there. 

A picture of the whole squadron..my Grandfather is on here

This was the original plaque from the briefing room...the signature underneath is from one of the Dambuster crews George 'Johnnie' Johnson a bomb aimer on one of the Lancs that attacked the Sorpe Dam.

There is a lot to see.. 

In one of the dedicated Dambuster rooms is this nose pod and the two aiming methods used by 617 to target the Dams from 60ft. 

Three flight crew from Scampton rec'd the Victoria cross..this room is dedicated to two of them..Gibson was the third 

A time capsule.. 

And still there were more rooms and more to see.. 

A Diaroama of Scampton with models representing the aircraft types to have operated from here

RAF Scampton - The Dambusters part 1

On Saturday i managed to organise a guided tour around the Scampton Heritage museum at RAF Scampton.  The tours are by appointment only so i was very happy to recieve an emailig confirming my attendance this weekend. During the war,  Scampton was home to 617 Squadron - the Dambusters.  My Great Grandad, Ernest Drinkall was a member of the squadron and was based here during the famous Dams raid.  So, it was with humble feeling that i walked in the footsteps of Ernest and Gibson, Maudslay, Hopgood, Burpee, McCarthy et al

Once past security and the Barracks, Mess and Headquarters areas we arrived airside of the Hangers.  The Dispersal points and runways are to the right of this picture.  At this point we have already passed many famous sites from the Dambusters movie which starred Richard Todd as Gibson and Michael Redgrave as barnes Wallace.  We passed the headquarters building and had pointed out to us the very room where Guy Gibson gave his final briefing before the attack on the Dams.  A plaque stands on the wall commemorating this event.
The Red arrows are currently based here and the Gate Guardians in the picture stand guard to the entrance of the Red Arrows hanger and offices.

The hangers were built in an arc.  This was to stop German bombers from having a straight bombing run over the Hangers..

The Hanger and offices on the left of this pic are the actual offices and hanger of 617 Squadron.  To the right of the tree on the grass is a fenced area, this is Niggers grave.

Roger, our tour guide, kindly opened the gate to allow us an unobstructured view of Niggers grave.  Nigger was saadly run over outside the gate to the base on the day of the raid and Gibson asked that he be buried outside his office at midnight, the time that he would be attacking the Dams..

Niggers grave...still immaculatley kept today.

The stairs leading to Guy Gibsons office... 

The stairwell and corridors of the Hanger and offices are used to portray the many artifacts and pictures related to the Dambusters.

Very poignant.  In the annex just outside Gibsons office are these two items...both remains from the Mosquito aircraft in which he crashed and died.

Part of Guy Gibsons Mosquito..

Guys office...it was an incredible feeling to be in this space..

Another view of the office...

A very humbling experience...Niggers grave can be seen outside of the window. 

Guy Gibson in his office 

I was allowed by the guide to sit at the desk in the very same office...the paper is the Daily Telegraph reporting on the success of the raid..

Catherine of Aragon

Had a day off yesterday and amongst other things visited Peterborough Cathedral. What a lot of people don't know is that Peterborough Cathedral is the last resting place of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first, and some say one and only true, wife.

It's quite amazing to come across such a place, a place that has such significance in the history of England.  The grave is always attended and has flowers and momentos.  Someone has place pomegranates on the grave, the pomegranate being her heraldic symbol.  In the early 20th century her grave was upgraded to that of a Queen of England.

Every year at the Cathedral there is a service in her memory and the Cathedral officials told me that the Cathedral is packed to the rafters.  They certainly look after her at the Cathedral.  Hers is a fascinating story when you delve into it.

Also at Peterborough is the former resting place of mary Queen of Scots before she was re-interred at Westminster Abbey in 1612.

Catherines grave...

You can see some Pomegranates on the grave, some Spanish ribbon and fresh flowers..

Here the Scottish flags mark the former resting place of mary Queen of Scots..

The grave site is opposite Catherines