(27th June 2008)
The following is the speech at the Unveiling of the Carpet Bed Display delivered by Ken Sanson the Commodore of PFBC: Councillor Peter Adams, Cllr. Les Burden with Mrs Burden, and Invited Guests - welcome to this dedication ceremony. Also Sarah Austin Borough Of Poole (BoP) Leisure Services; Mike Parkinson Continental Landscapes; Mike Heckford Friends of Poole Park; Group Capt. Douglas Cook OBE with Cadet Corporal Harris of No.149 (Poole) - an ATC Cadet, and especially Captain James (Jim) Peers - a pilot with BOAC !!! This wonderful bed depicting the famous Sunderland Flying Boat celebrates the years particularly from 1939 to 1948 when various types of Flying Boats and Seaplanes flew in & out of Poole Harbour. In 1940, Poole was the birthplace of BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) which took over Imperial Airways Limited and flew passengers and freight from the Harbour during the War: These services continued post-war until 1948, mainly using 24 Sunderland's converted for carrying passengers over long distances. During the War Years, RAF Hamworthy was home to Sunderland's and Catalina's of Coastal Command (Group 19) which served with great distinction on patrol from Poole, and in finding /attacking U-Boats in the Western Approaches right down to the Bay of Biscay Poole Flying Boats Celebration has recently been contacted by people from around the UK, Canada, the USA and even Australia who intend to come Poole to see this carpet bed and our Harbour ! We wish to sincerely thank Mrs Cecilia Grimston for proposing Poole Flying Boat Celebration’s Diamond Jubilee in marking the last Flying Boat services from Poole during 1948, to be honoured by this fantastic carpet bedding - courtesy of BoP Leisure Services and so beautifully created ( & repaired) by Continental Landscapes. A Great Thank You to ALL who have been involved. Currently, we are looking at potential ways of informing young people and visitors to Poole about this remarkable slice of history. Thank you all for coming along today - may we now invite our guests to the Mezza Luna Restaurant for a celebratory cup of tea !
