Free Multi-Era Signing Event - Sunday 19th November

Join us at the new Steventon Gallery for this special multi-era signing event!

We're delighted to announce that we'll be hosting a multi-era signing event at the new Steventon Gallery, joined by veterans who served during WW2, the Falklands Conflict, Iraq & Afghanistan, and beyond! Our special guests include:

Second World War

Flight Lieutenant DES CURTIS DFC – serving as a Navigator he joined 235 Sqn on Beaufighters over the North Sea and Norwegian coast. In April 1943 he converted to Mosquitos and helped form 618 Sqn for special operations against the German Battleship Tirpitz. He then flew from bases in Cornwall attacking U-Boats in their pens along the French Atlantic Coast and in September 1944 joined 248 Sqn as part of the Banff Strike Wing flying Mosquitos out of Scotland.

Flight Lieutenant WALTER FORSTER - based in Germany after the war in 1946 he flew Spitfires and then Mosquitos with 98 Squadron. Moving back to the UK he flew Meteors with 65 Squadron from Duxford before moving again to Germany with 234 Squadron flying Hunters. Posted to RAF Leuchars in Scotland with 43 Squadron he again flew Hunters before moving back to Germany on an exchange with the new German Airforce instructing young pilots on the Fouga Magiser jet trainer.

Warrant Officer ROY BRIGGS - as a Wireless Operator on Lancasters with 576 Sqn based at RAF Fiskerton, Roy completed 10 wartime missions including raids to Plauen and Bremen before taking part in Operation Manna. As the war in Europe ended he transferred to 156 Pathfinder Sqn.

Leading Aircraftman BERT WESTGATE - having joined the RAF in 1943, Bert initially trained as a Lancaster rear gunner, then prior to D-Day was posted to Compton Bassett, a Radar and Radio training facility, to undertake tactical wireless operator training. He was then re-posted to Portland, Weymouth, in early June 1944 and crossed the channel to Omaha beach on D-Day +6 with American forces where he undertook radio van operator duties following the 21st Army Group through Normandy, France and into Belgium.

Falklands Conflict

Warrant Officer 1st Class (Regimental Sergeant Major) KERRY HASTINGS - on completing basic training in December 1971, Kerry was posted to 2 Para.  During his 24-year career he served tours in Depot Para, 4 Para TA, 1 and 3 Para. He completed four tours in Northern Ireland and was a Platoon Sergeant in A Company 2 Para during the Falklands conflict. 2 Para had the honour of being the first battalion into battle, the only battalion to be involved in two battles and the first into Port Stanley.  Kerry completed his service at the Parachute Course Administration Unit  RAF Brize Norton, retiring in 1995.

Squadron Leader MIKE PUGH-DAVIES - joined the RAF in 1976 and trained as a navigator. He flew in Canberra, Phantom and Tornado aircraft and, as a NATO evaluator, in a number of aircraft from other Allied nations including the F4f, F-15, F-16 and CF-18.  In 1988 he was navigator to Wg Cdr John Brady when they set a new World Record time for a flight between John O’Groats and Land’s End in Phantom XV582, which is now preserved at ‘Black Mike’.  He served on operations in the UK, Germany, the Falkland Islands, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Qatar.  

Iraq & Afghanistan

Lance Corporal DAVE RADBAND - as a member of 1 Para and the Special Forces Support Group, Dave Radband served in some of the heaviest fighting of Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Mention In Dispatches for leading his team of Afghan Commandos in an assault on a Taliban compound. It was the kind of action that had become second nature to the Parachute Regiment soldier, having taken part in 173 raids on high values targets in Iraq. He completed a total of 10 operational deployments.

Lance Corporal SCOTT SPENCER - also serving with 1 Para and the Special Forces Support Group, Scott took part the first invasion of Iraq in 2003 and throughout his military career saw some of the heaviest fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan. On leaving the Parachute Regiment he worked in the private security sector back in similarly hostile environments.

Des Curtis, Dave Radband and Vic Morrell

And more...

Chief of Staff Reserves Cmd Warrant Officer CHRIS PEACOCK MSTA Cert/Ed VR

Corporal GRAHAM WHELAN - serving between 1965 and 1974, Graham first joined 3 Para before moving to 1 Para, and finally for the last two years was a member of the Infantry Display team in Warminster. His service included two tours of Northern Ireland, a Ski Course with the Italian Alpina sky troops and a Jungle Warfare course in Malaya.

VIC MORRELL - joining the Army aged 15, Vic served mostly with 1 Para, including several tours of Northern Ireland, a tour of Cyprus during the Turkish invasion, then a year later a UN tour of Cyprus. Vic spent four years as part of the Ace Mobility Contingency involving winter warfare and survival completing 1 tour with JATE at Brize Norton. Vic completed 2 tours of the Parachute Regiment training depot, one as a member of ‘P’ Coy staff. With the Regiment moving to Catterick Vic took a posting with the Parachute Training School at Brize Norton. Approaching the end of a distinguished 22 years service Vic was offered a position with the Royal Engineers (TA) until their disbandment. Vic completed his contract with the Oxford OTC. 

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Entry is completely FREE, all we ask is that you RESERVE YOUR TICKET in advance to help us manage numbers and make it relaxed and comfortable for everyone.

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IDEAL PRINTS FOR SIGNING... 

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