Museum's Spitfire project needs £50k
A FRESH campaign has been launched to safeguard Stoke-on-Trent's Spitfire and bring it to life in an interactive display.
And if the £50,000 needed for the project is collected, visitors could even watch the restoration taking place.
The plane, housed in the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, was commissioned in 1945 and time has taken its toll.
Without restoration work, experts say it will eventually fall apart.
Previous fund-raising campaigns have not got off the ground.
But now efforts are taking place to return the Mk XVI Spitfire RW388 to its former glory and allow visitors to watch the work happening.
Officials say the money would also pay for the museum piece to be brought to life in an interactive display, although there are no specific details yet.
The Spitfire, designed by Butt Lane-born Reginald Mitchell, is widely recognised as the plane that saved the country from invasion during the Battle of Britain.
Mary Durose, of Cheddleton, vice-chairman of the Friends Of The Museum, is campaigning to preserve the city's plane.
The 62-year-old said: "We have now set up a sub-committee just to raise money for the Spitfire.
"When they built the Spitfires, they didn't expect them to last more than a few months, because they would get shot down.
"Our Spitfire is more than 70 years old and it's starting to rust.
"We are still discussing it, but we would like to see some of the restoration, where possible, taking place in the museum.
"We want to bring the Spitfire to life. We have already got the projection screen back and we would like to have interactive displays. We want to raise £50,000 by December."
Engineer Mark Harris, aged 47, owner of Burslem-based Supermarine Aero Engineering Ltd, a specialist firm that maintains the Ministry of Defence's fleet of Second World War aeroplanes, said: "It will allow the public to see something a bit special, a bit unique; an aeroplane being restored in a museum setting.
"It will inspire people to want to keep coming back to the museum."
Spitfire enthusiast Neil Gilson, of Brown Edge, said: "This is the opportunity to create a lasting memento to one of the greatest pieces of engineering design the world has ever seen."
Councillor Terry Follows, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said: "It's really worthwhile. The Spitfire is part of our heritage."
So far, more than £400 has been collected.
To donate to the cause, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/spitfire or call 01782 232502.
3 Comments
by Jenhol22
Saturday, February 25 2012, 11:39PM
“Negativity is not what this city or this museum needs oildrum1, you very obviously don't know the financial benefits that the Staffordshire Hoard has had it has put our city back on the map and it is an important national treasure, so instead of being negative, be pro-active and donate to the appeal yourself-only £530.00 has been raised even after the appeal being advertised in our city newspaper which has a huge readership, so instead of moaning can the people of Stoke-on-Trent get their finger out and donate a £1 each to this appeal. We moan moan moan yet never do anything to improve the city, so please donate because moaning about the city and its museum won't help us will it?”
by Mayhem_12
Thursday, February 23 2012, 3:06PM
“Maybe a £2 admission fee to the spitfire display would help with the restoration process.Its not too much to give for such a worthwhile cause.”
by oildrum1
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:21PM
“Perhaps if the Museum & City Council concentrated on things that are actually relevant to the City, instead of their obsession with a few trinkets found in a field in the south of the county, then it wouldn't be up to 'friends' groups to raise money for such an important artefact.”