Regimental Mess silver of the 3 services
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Birmingham
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I was House Member at RAF Henlow in the late '90s and the Mess silver included a number of items inherited from the former RAF Cardington. Taking pride of place was a splendid silver platter presented by (if I recall correctly) the town corporation of Bedford to the R101 - fortunately, not taken on its ill-fated flight.
(We also had a number of small original paintings by David Shepherd of various RAF aircraft. They were done in the 1960s as place mats and had been used as such until someone realised their value and they were framed and put on the ante-room wall!)
(We also had a number of small original paintings by David Shepherd of various RAF aircraft. They were done in the 1960s as place mats and had been used as such until someone realised their value and they were framed and put on the ante-room wall!)
Most mess silver is of the highest standard of craftsmanship and I have particularly been impressed with the accuracy of the aircraft models.
Some time c 1975, during a particularly rowdy dining-in night the Harrow sustained Cat 4 damage when struck by some item of food. This necessitated a trip to Garrards by the squadron officer i/c silver. On his arrival at their premises an elderly gentleman was summoned from the depths of the back shop. He examined the aircraft, tutted, and said it had been in better shape when he last saw it. Turned out this guy had worked on the piece when it was being made almost 40 years earlier, and he was still there working at his craft in 1975. No short term contracts in those days!
Wonder where the Harrow is now?
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Nutloose,
Thanks for the steer. But when the dread words "sponsor" and "fee" are heard (and I remember Chester Herald's fees: they weren't funny and it was just as well TAAFA was paying), I come all over faint.
Even suppose I empty piggy-bank and get wonderful painting or even a photocopy, will still have to get it on Post to embellish a past entry. With my abysmal computer skills that is a forlorn hope.
Hope the College will play ball and put it on an enclosure to e-mail. Will wait and see what happens and let Tim and you know.
Danny.
Thanks for the steer. But when the dread words "sponsor" and "fee" are heard (and I remember Chester Herald's fees: they weren't funny and it was just as well TAAFA was paying), I come all over faint.
Even suppose I empty piggy-bank and get wonderful painting or even a photocopy, will still have to get it on Post to embellish a past entry. With my abysmal computer skills that is a forlorn hope.
Hope the College will play ball and put it on an enclosure to e-mail. Will wait and see what happens and let Tim and you know.
Danny.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Back in Geordie Land
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PPP and all,
have any of you been to Stafford lately and had a look around the RAF Museum 'reserve collection'??
It is staggering, literally unbelievable whats in storage there, including a great amount of squadron silver and other memorabilia.
If you can get to have a look around, it is well worth it on its own, but for your lost valuables, its a treasure trove!
Winco
have any of you been to Stafford lately and had a look around the RAF Museum 'reserve collection'??
It is staggering, literally unbelievable whats in storage there, including a great amount of squadron silver and other memorabilia.
If you can get to have a look around, it is well worth it on its own, but for your lost valuables, its a treasure trove!
Winco
Gentleman Aviator
Makes one think of the sad end of one of the RAF's finest pieces - that was nicked from the Mess at Bracknell some years ago.
It had a good story behind it (for such a junior service!). Apparently it was presented in 1920 or so by an Irish Regiment who were disbanded after Irish independance - being a loyalist-ish lot, they apparently melted down all their mess silver to produce one enormous piece, which was engraved with words to the effect of "To a New Service beginning as an Old One ends" or similar.
Of course, before terrorism and security (!), I guess someone just pitched up to the Mess in a white van/brown dustcoat and took it away "for cleaning" or something. Almost certainly melted down - again!
I'll try and find a picture.
It had a good story behind it (for such a junior service!). Apparently it was presented in 1920 or so by an Irish Regiment who were disbanded after Irish independance - being a loyalist-ish lot, they apparently melted down all their mess silver to produce one enormous piece, which was engraved with words to the effect of "To a New Service beginning as an Old One ends" or similar.
Of course, before terrorism and security (!), I guess someone just pitched up to the Mess in a white van/brown dustcoat and took it away "for cleaning" or something. Almost certainly melted down - again!
I'll try and find a picture.
When I was O/C mess silver in the 60s I had a similar query. I was told that after the war all the redundant mess silver was stored at, I believe, Mildenhall. One day some trucks arrived with appropriate pieces of paper and they drove off with a sizable quantity of the collection.
The trucks were found abandoned a short time later.
The trucks were found abandoned a short time later.
