The Ministry of Defence have announced that they intend to decommission RAF Scampton in 3 years time. A suggestion has been put forward at Scampton Church that a stained glass window might be commissioned to mark 100 years relationship between RAF Scampton and Scampton Church (1918 – 2018) and thereby also create a lasting memory to all who served in squadrons at the base, both in peacetime, during the two world wars and the cold war.
The following organisations have agreed to be non funding community partners in the project.; RAF Scampton, Scampton Primary School, Pollyplatt Primary School at RAF Scampton, and The Dambusters Inn, Scampon. Aviation Heritage (Lincolnshire) have also offered their support.
Twenty two squadrons have been based at RAF Scampton since its inception and 15 of those have squadron associations. Combine this with the 65,000 members of the Royal Air Forces Association worldwide, and the thousands of followers of the Red Arrows, then it is hoped that a carefully designed crowd funding campaign would stand a good chance of success, in securing the funds needed.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant Fund often matches funds raised for community projects.
Two well respected stained glass designers, with an impressive portfolio, are working on a conceptual design for this RAF stained glass window. The basic makeup of the conceptual design was agreed at a meeting, between the partners, and the RAF Scampton badge forms a central part of that design, alongside the winged RAF badge (per ardva ad astra) which sits proudly on 106 of the 107 war grave headstones in the churchyard. A suggested inscription on the window would read:
“To commemorate those who served in squadrons based at RAF Scampton 1918 – 2018”
Also included in the design are a representation of an Avro Lancaster, Avro Vulcan and the Red Arrows Hawk Jets in a diamond nine formation.
The Royal Air Forces Association, and the International Bomber Command Centre have offered to support this project on their social media platforms.
Stay up to date with this project on Twitter @scamptonchurch