Couple applaud ‘overwhelming’ support for RAF North Creake Stirling bomber memorial sculpture
An illustration of a sculpture of an Avro Lancaster in flight at the former RAF East Kirkby base in Lincolnshire. The planned sculpture of the Stirling bomber at RAF North Creake would look similar. Picture: PLANNING APPLICATION DOCS - Credit: Archant
The owners of a bed and breakfast at a former Norfolk air base have said the support for plans to build a memorial at the site has been “overwhelming”.
Nigel Morter and Claire Nugent outside the tower RAF North Creake control tower, during a open day at the former aerodrome. Picture: Matthew Usher. - Credit: Matthew Usher
The memorial project, Time to Remember, was the idea of Nigel Morter and Claire Nugent, who live in the control tower.
And the couple are now ready to move ahead with their plans to install a skeletal sculpture of a Stirling bomber at the site, after it was approved by the council.
They hope the memorial will be unveiled in time for the 75th anniversary of the airfield’s disbandment on August 1, 2020.
Ms Nugent said: “We are thrilled the project is finally moving on the build phase.
“With every milestone reached we inch closer to having this beautiful memorial to those who served here at RAF North Creake becoming a reality.”
The plans were agreed by North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) on Friday, February 8.
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The pair were given permission to move ahead with the installation of a skeletal aircraft memorial sculpture, seating area, a memorial roll of honour wall, with a pedestrian access path, information boards and parking.
Mr Morter said: “It’s been an idea since we moved here seven years ago.
“The fundraising is continuing and we’ve got a talk in April.”
He added: “The support we’ve been getting locally and even from people internationally has been quite overwhelming.
“Claire and I didn’t know what support would be out there and it’s been really wonderful.”
Sculptor Andy Knighton has been comissioned to create a stainless steel skeletal sculpture of a Stirling bomber, which will appear as if in flight, on a piece of land at the B1105 junction on the Walsingham Estate.
Mr Knighton said: “I’m very honoured and excited to be part of this and I’m really looking forward to seeing the sculpture in place and the memorial finished.”
A fundraising event will be held at Holkham Hall on Tuesday, April 16, where Mr Morter will give a talk on the history of RAF North Creake during World War Two.
Mr Morter said: “The Earl of Leicester has kindly given the project use of the hall and free parking to help with the fundraising efforts.”
Tickets are £20 per person, and are available from the bar at The Black Lion Hotel Walsingham, or by emailing mail@controltowerstays.com.
READ MORE: ‘Skeletal’ Stirling to soar at site of former RAF bomber base
