Town Hall Stamford

In the reception area of Stamford Town Hall is a display cabinet with artefacts from Stamford's connections with military units, including RAFs Wittering and Cottesmore, 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire regiment, Territory Army and Home Guard covering the Second Boer War and WW2.
There is also a model of 'The Stamford Spitfire' and the plaque awarded by the Ministry of Aircraft

"In the hour of peril
people of Stamford and
District
earned the gratitude
of the British Nations
sustaining valour of
the Royal Air Force
and fortifying the cause
of freedom
by the gift of
Spitfire aircraft.
They shall mount up with wings as angels
`Issued by the Ministry of Aircraft Production
1941"

'In 1940 Stamford decided to buy its own Spitfire , a marker board was put in our Central Cinema. The target to reach was £5000, which in 1940 was a lot of money. The collection boxes went into every shop, banks, public houses and all the local firms. We had whist drives and dances. We watched with great interest, the marker on the board, until it had reached the £5000.
Then later our own Spitfire with the Stamford Crest on its body flew over the town in thanks for all our effort' (from an illuminated scroll by Betty Clarke)
[As a child growing up in Stamford, I can remember the marker board attached to the side of the cinema}

Spitfire Mk 11b Tail Number P8505 entered service on 2/5/41 and served with 222 (Natal) Sqdn, 266 (Rhodesia) Sqdn, 616 Sqdn, 54 Sqdn and 610 T.U.. By 1943 the aircraft was outclassed by German aircraft and was relegated to a training role with 610 TU and on 12 Jun 1943 after a practice dog fight, P8505 was in collision with Spitfire P8195 resulting in P8505 crashing near Bomere Heath, Salop and the death of Flying Officer T.B. O'Reilly.
P8505 achieved several kills whilst flying with 266 Squadron out of nearby RAF Wittering.

In 2022 the Town Hall held an exhibition called "Sosab" dedicated to General Stanislaw Sosabowski and the men of the 1st Independent (Polish) Brigade who were based in Stamford and surrounding villages prior to Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward