AN emotional tribute was paid last week to the many airman who have lost their lives over the skies of Teesdale.
Officers from RAF Leeming, RAF associations, a Combined Cadet Force and residents gathered at Barnard Castle’s memorial garden to mark the 27th year since the founding of Teesdale Aviation Day.
The occasion was made all the more solemn by the absence due to illness of the day’s co-founder John Yarker.
Instead he was represented by his daughter Suzanne Thomas.
The service was led by Revd Canon Alec Harding with performances by The Vintage Pipes and Drums band, whose pipe sergeant Alastair Wright played the lament. Joint co-founder Tony Galley noted that the ceremonies of 2020 and 2021 had to be missed because of Covid and “2021 would have been our 25th anniversary” .
In a new addition to the laying of wreaths, the Act of Remembrance and prayers, brief stories were read out about four of the airmen who lost their lives in Teesdale.
Ms Thomas spoke about 22-year-old Albert Logan of the Royal Canadian Air Force whose Spitfire crashed over Startforth in 1942.
She said: “Albert Logan is buried in Startforth Church yard. For many years his grave was tended by my father John Yarker.”
The airman had been flying above his girlfriend who was playing tennis below and it is believed she watched as the tragedy unfolded and he crashed.
Other stories told of the crew of a Blackburn Botha Aircraft which crashed on Stainmoor, where Mr Yarker’s research cleared a Polish pilot of blame, a Tomahawk that crashed near Battle Hill Ranges in 1943, killing the pilot, and more recently a Jaguar which crashed near Bowes in 1981, killing Squadron Leader Roger Matthews.
Wreaths were laid by town mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee, Wing Commander Emma Watkins of RAF Leeming, Peter McGraghan of Hartlepool RAF Association, Alan Myers of Crook and District RAF Association, Major Caroline Connor of Barney School CCF and Tony Jackson headmaster of Barney School.
Ms Thomas laid a wreath on behalf of her father as well as Mr Galley.
The Last Post was sounded by trumpeter Andrew Nicholson before a two-minute silence was observed.
Mr Galley thanked the various organisations that had attended the service, as well as the small crowd that had gathered.
He said: “John would have been pleased to see you here this morning.”
