View Full Version : Airfield memorials plan
XV490
17th Feb 2009, 11:45
:confused: Just come across this:
"We are delighted to announce that ABCT’s Director General, Kenneth Bannerman, will be unveiling four memorials in England to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Britain’s airfields."
According to the ABCT website (http://www.abct.org.uk/index.html), Mr Bannerman will be unveiling at Fambridge, Rivenhall, Leysdown and Bekesbourne airfields between Friday and Monday. There are plans for a memorial to be erected at each known disused airfield site in Britain.
Anyone know Mr Bannerman? On his website he says:
"You could almost say my life might be viewed as an allegory for our airfields. Academically I was seen as an enigma, once seriously being referred to as a genius somehow not that good at exams but still possessing an indefinable ‘something’ – again a bit like our airfields I suppose. Severe disillusionment after uncovering a conspiratorial revelation meant my efforts were therefore concentrated upon various bigger, futuristic ideas, in particular how to make money, writing and then this new airfield idea – all largely correlated and exactly what I do today."
:bored: Eh?
Postfade
17th Feb 2009, 13:58
Thanks for pointing this site out...the newsletter I downloaded is full seemingly 'puffed up' adjectives praising the wonderful Mr Bannerman and his organisation..
"Our ...charity can without question clam to have produced a torrent of tremendous results"
"relentlessly mushroom into one of the most exciting and ultra-dynamic organisations ever seen"
"needed the grimly determined ploughing of a lonely furrow to turn a deceptively simple idea into the miracle that is toaday ABCT"
" we are indisputably talking of a sheer miracle"
etc etc. That's just the first couple of paragraphs of the one I read.
We are obviously extremely lucky to have this man and his brilliant organisation saving the nation's history.
I wonder if we could get him working on "The Vulcan To The Sky" project!
David Taylor.
forget
17th Feb 2009, 14:50
There's something not quite right with all this...
Indeed! But what? The Walt Investigation Team needs to look into this. :hmm:
XV490
17th Feb 2009, 18:27
We are obviously extremely lucky to have this man and his brilliant organisation saving the nation's history.Yes, and it seems that others share that view, judging from some of the FB on the website, including:
"ABCT and Kenneth Bannerman are mounting perhaps the most shattering assault on perception ever seen in history. More power to their elbow."
N.S. Gloucestershire
"The name Kenneth Bannerman kept cropping up now and again in the airfield or aviation world. It had certainly once or twice crossed my mind who exactly was this enigmatic figure. But, my God, we know now. The myth is reality: you are the man and ABCT is the answer. Utterly, utterly brilliant."
- D.B., North Yorkshire
So now we know. Could he indeed save the Vulcan?
forget
17th Feb 2009, 18:46
Hmmmm. The unusual use of words in the website 'back-slaps' is remarkably similar to that used by Bannerman himself. Could it be ................... :hmm:
He is to airfields as Mr Sandford is to cricket?
Skua
XV490
20th Feb 2009, 16:38
Wasn't the Incredible Hulk a Mr Bannerman on his days off?
nacluv
22nd Feb 2009, 09:43
Nearly - David Banner I believe!
Now, you may be interested to learn that Mr Bannerman's middle name is 'Peacock'. Certainly fits the self-aggrandisement in the write-ups!
XV490
23rd Feb 2009, 08:18
It would seem Mr Bannerman's self-regard extends to the memorials themselves - check out the pictures here (http://airfieldinformationexchange.freeforums.org/airfields-of-britain-conservation-trust-press-release-t2186-15.html) from the Rivenhall unveiling last Saturday.
Airfields that were the last terra firma for thousands of dead airmen are not the place for such vanity.
forget
23rd Feb 2009, 08:37
Ridiculous! Fleeting web address on a granite memorial. :confused: Unveiled by 'Director General' ??? :confused: 'Dedicated to all units and personnel based here'. Present tense. :confused: I'll guard the Cambridgeshire borders. Volunteers needed for the rest of the country. :hmm:
Photograph removed, ref below.
That is my photo in the post above and I'd rather you remove it from this debate on pprune. I do not wish to be associated with the views on this thread and any views I express will be made on the AiX forum.
If future, if you wish to use my images please ask first.
forget
23rd Feb 2009, 20:24
As requested REF, I have removed your photograph. So as not to lose the gravity of the unveiling in question, by the self appointed Director General, a photograph by one of your colleagues, KB, is below. If KB wishes this removed then I will do so.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/cumpas/kb.jpg
XV490
24th Feb 2009, 08:18
That is my photo in the post above and I'd rather you remove it from this debate on pprune. I do not wish to be associated with the views on this thread and any views I express will be made on the AiX forum.REF - It's understandable that, as one of the owners of the AiX website, you prefer not to align yourself with some of the views expressed here.
But perhaps you could post a photo of the Rivenhall memorial here yourself, without comment, so that PPRuNers can decide for themselves whether or not Mr Bannerman has got the balance right between commemoration and self promotion.
XV490, as you asked nicely!
Kenneth Bannerman with the ABCT Memorial at Communal Site of Rivenhall Airfield on 21st February 2009
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/Flyer719/Rivenhall/20090221Rivenhall92-1.jpg
XV490
24th Feb 2009, 11:07
Thanks, REF.
LookingNorth
24th Feb 2009, 11:09
Lovely memorial to ABCT and one man's ego. Disgraceful. :yuk:
Kieron Kirk
24th Feb 2009, 12:19
I have posted my comments on the ABCT site and e-mailed similar comments.
I think others have said what I would have said.
Sad.
Ciarain.
XV490
24th Feb 2009, 12:29
Ciarain - Have your comments actually appeared on the ABCT website? Unless they're 100% supportive, I doubt they'll ever be seen.
Sad is right. I wish this man's pointless, egotistical campaign could be somehow stopped. But, as I said before, there's something not quite right with all this...
Kieron Kirk
24th Feb 2009, 12:40
XV490
Posted and e-mailed about an hour ago.
Go to "feedback" then click "vox pop".
My comments have yet to appear.
Ciarain.
ps. XV490 was a 29 Squadron Phantom at Coningsby 12th June 1975!
XV490
25th Feb 2009, 09:36
I note the AiX people (http://airfieldinformationexchange.freeforums.org/airfields-of-britain-conservation-trust-press-release-t2186-15.html) are now understandably getting fired up by all this, even talking about objecting to ABCT's aims at local council planning level.
There can be few former military airfields left that don't already boast at least one memorial to their past. These will have been set up, by consensus, between all the interested parties, including veterans' groups and local communities. There is no need to impose additional, uninvited 'advertising' reminiscent of a gaggle of different estate agents' boards outside one house.
REF - Off-thread, do you think the AiXers could help solve The Prisoner airfield debate (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/361024-filming-title-scenes-prisoner.html) running on PPRuNe?
Kieron Kirk
25th Feb 2009, 10:32
XV490
My comments have still not appeared on the ABCT website.
There are some very strong posts on AiX questioning the "testimonials" in the vox pop section. Consumer legislation which came into law in early 2008 makes it illegal for a supplier to publish false testimonials on a website, but I am not sure if this applies to charities.
Ciarain.
PPRuNe Pop
25th Feb 2009, 10:55
We are getting increasingly uneasy regarding this thread and its content.
Anyone want to convince us of the veracity of this?
Mods.
Kieron Kirk
25th Feb 2009, 11:06
I can understand your concern, I was just commenting on the posts on AiX.
I have received acknowledgements from ABCT following my comments to them.
Ciarain.
XV490
25th Feb 2009, 11:21
To the Mods:
The unveiling of some of a number of memorials referred to here took place last weekend, with coverage in local media (newspapers and BBC TV East). Since then, three forums (this one, AiX and Key) have attracted a good deal of negative comment about them and the motivation behind them.
I hope you don't feel the need to pull the thread, as I'm sure this story will run for quite a while. IMHO, it needs to - at least until Mr Bannerman makes a statement to reply to his critics.
PPRuNe Pop
25th Feb 2009, 12:37
It is, of course, the negativity surrounding this project that brings into question whether it should have a sounding platform here.
We will keep an open mind in the immediate meantime.
Mods
LookingNorth
25th Feb 2009, 13:17
Why shouldn't this thread continue? Why would it be OK to have a thread repeatedly criticising specific people (including accusations of financial impropriety with no evidence put forward whatsoever) in the Vulcan XH558 thread, but not have a thread airing legitimate concerns about the very public activities of the "enigmatic, brilliant, mythical" Kenneth Bannerman?
XV490 (re Filming of the title scenes of The Prisoner) - are you on AiX?
I guess probably not but thought I'd ask anyway! I'm sure the guys there could help out, might be worth putting a post up about it. There is a thread about 'Airfields on Film' Airfield Information Exchange - The Public Forums of The Airfield Research Group (ARG) • View topic - Arfields on film (http://airfieldinformationexchange.freeforums.org/arfields-on-film-t1299.html) - I'd have to have a read through to see if its mention or not though!
ABCT is reportedly unveiling its first Scottish memorial (http://www.abct.org.uk/news/memorial-to-be-unveiled-at-lanark.php) on Friday...
Krystal n chips
7th Apr 2023, 17:07
A nice, and appropriate, series of memorials it seems.
Three Derbyshire airfields to be honoured with memorials - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-65207019)
Remembered by the Kenneth Bannerman self appreciation society.
DaveReidUK
8th Apr 2023, 18:53
Does he put his name on the memorials ?
Does he put his name on the memorials ?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/943x1676/screenshot_20230408_203724_samsung_internet_6bea2a488555137e 377e79354d2d36a1c7e53cd6.jpg
One of Bannerman's self appreciation memorials
Krystal n chips
9th Apr 2023, 06:31
Hmmm ?
Post something informative and innocuous, in theory, relating to aviation history and lo and behold, controversy emerges.
There must be numerous memorials across the UK with the name(s) of those who unveiled them included....nothing new or unknown there....but, in this case, there appears to be a subliminal aspect for reasons that, on the surface, would suggest altruism in erecting these memorials isn't the prime intent.
Hence what is the basis for the objection to his name being included on the memorials please ?
OvertHawk
9th Apr 2023, 08:49
I have to confess that i'm largely with ZH875 on this.
It's long been my view that ABCT does little or nothing but spend its funds on putting generic blocks of stone around the country and getting Mr Bannerman's picture in the paper.
There is no historic value to these memorials. They contain nothing personal or relevant to the airfields or people and the majority of the text on them refers to the ABCT and Mr Bannerman rather than the airfield itself.
I'd rather people donated to their local aviation museum than paying for a lump of granite to be put in a field that says little more than "there used to be an airfield here".
I'm afraid it comes across very much as a vanity project.
I must say "Director-General" does tend to support ZH875's point of view.
Surely Chairman would be more the norm.
This was first discussed here (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/362595-airfield-memorials-plan.html?highlight=Bannerman) on Pprune 14 years ago, when opinions began to concern the mods.
The best that can be said about these granite blocks is that they are markers, not memorials.
In the case of Darley Moore, it's still an operational airfield.
DaveReidUK
9th Apr 2023, 15:00
This was first discussed here (http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/362595-airfield-memorials-plan.html?highlight=Bannerman) on Pprune 14 years ago, when opinions began to concern the mods.
I can't get too worked up about some of the ridiculous criticisms on that thread:
'Dedicated to all units and personnel based here'. Present tense.
Really ???
The best that can be said about these granite blocks is that they are markers, not memorials.
I'd say they satisfy the criteria for a memorial. The BBC would appear to agree.
Smith's Lawn airfield memorial unveiled by Duke of Edinburgh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-36012601)
I can't get too worked up about some of the ridiculous criticisms on that thread:
Really ???
I'd say they satisfy the criteria for a memorial. The BBC would appear to agree.
Smith's Lawn airfield memorial unveiled by Duke of Edinburgh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-36012601)
I don't consider the BBC, especially its recent crop of regional reporters, to be suitable arbiters in such matters.
But I do give credit to the BBC scribe here who picked up on Mr Bannerman's organisation's characteristic hyperbole, describing old airfields as "phenomenally brilliant places which have benevolently revolutionised everyday life."
The main beneficiaries of Smith's Lawn, it seems to me, were the Royal Family.
Many years ago, I remember seeing in the Supply Sqdn a large poster showing a map of the UK with RAF bases current (1978) and former shown with runway plan in a solid ring for in use or a dotted ring for then not in use. Does anybody remember this? and is there any way of identifying it as I don't know the Form number.
thegypsy
16th Apr 2023, 07:44
Some time ago I gave a donation to a memorial here being my father's No 15 squadron last flight in Feb 1943.
Never heard anymore about it so guess it was never done?