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Locomotive rededicated to Sir Keith Park | Locomotive rededicated to Sir Keith Park |
(35 minutes later) | |
A locomotive has been rededicated in Worcestershire to a Battle of Britain hero. | A locomotive has been rededicated in Worcestershire to a Battle of Britain hero. |
Sir Keith Park commanded RAF squadrons that defended London and the South East from Luftwaffe attacks in 1940. | Sir Keith Park commanded RAF squadrons that defended London and the South East from Luftwaffe attacks in 1940. |
Almost 66 years after the original naming ceremony, the Sir Keith Park locomotive was rededicated at Kidderminster railway station. | Almost 66 years after the original naming ceremony, the Sir Keith Park locomotive was rededicated at Kidderminster railway station. |
After 20 years at a scrapyard, it was renovated and became part of the the Severn Valley Railway last year. | After 20 years at a scrapyard, it was renovated and became part of the the Severn Valley Railway last year. |
'Popular engine' | 'Popular engine' |
To commemorate Sir Keith's achievement in the Battle of Britain, locomotive 34053 was dedicated to him and he named the engine himself on 19 September 1947 at Brighton Station. | To commemorate Sir Keith's achievement in the Battle of Britain, locomotive 34053 was dedicated to him and he named the engine himself on 19 September 1947 at Brighton Station. |
At the rededication ceremony in Worcestershire, The Right Honourable Sir Lockward Smith, New Zealand High Commissioner, unveiled the nameplate. | At the rededication ceremony in Worcestershire, The Right Honourable Sir Lockward Smith, New Zealand High Commissioner, unveiled the nameplate. |
Also present were RAF veterans who fought in the Battle of Britain, Oliver Bullied, the grandson of the locomotive's designer, and Terence Stevens-Prior, great-nephew of Sir Keith. | Also present were RAF veterans who fought in the Battle of Britain, Oliver Bullied, the grandson of the locomotive's designer, and Terence Stevens-Prior, great-nephew of Sir Keith. |
A flypast by a Hurricane and a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was also held at 14:00 BST over Bridgnorth in Shropshire, where standards were on parade by the RAF Association. | |
Clare Gibbard, from Severn Valley Railway, said: "Locomotive Sir Keith Park has been one of the railway's most popular engines since joining our fleet, and we thought that it would be a great idea to mark its return to service after 38 years." | Clare Gibbard, from Severn Valley Railway, said: "Locomotive Sir Keith Park has been one of the railway's most popular engines since joining our fleet, and we thought that it would be a great idea to mark its return to service after 38 years." |