Centenary celebrations at Ellesmere summer festival
Classic car enthusiasts in Ellesmere will be revving up to support the RAF’s centenary celebrations during the town’s summer festival weekend in August.
Drivers will form part of a team escorting a specially-designed, baton-shaped token that is being carried in relays around Britain to mark 100 years since “those magnificent men in their flying machines” officially became the Royal Air Force.
The centenary token will arrive on Sunday and will be handed into the care of the local branch of the Royal Air Force Association for a week by colleagues from Shrewsbury.
On August, 7 it will go on show at the town’s library, Our Space while on August 10 it will be displayed in the Market Hall by the Royal British Legion.
The highlight of the visit will be on August 11 when the token will be included in a special event at Cremorne Gardens, where there wil be a parade of 25 classic cars and a programme of music by Wem Jubilee Band.
During the afternoon, RAFA members will be collecting donations for the RAF Welfare Fund, which supports disabled and needy ex-service personnel and their families.
Some of the classic cars will escort the token when it leaves Ellesmere on August 12 on the next stage of its journey – to Market Drayton. It will be given a send-off by the town’s mayor, Councillor Ryan Hartley. The relay is due to finish at the Birmingham Military Tattoo in November.
Ellesmere RAFA chairman Tim Potter said: “The RAF was formed in 1918 through the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. It has a proud history of defending our country and continues to do so today, as well as providing vital humanitarian assistance in troubled parts of the world.
"I am delighted that the people of Ellesmere will have the opportunity to share in its centenary celebrations and I hope as many people as possible will have a chance to see the baton during its time with us. We’re very grateful to everyone for their support. It’s fitting that the 25 classic cars – 100 wheels – will be symbolic of the RAF’s 100 years.”
The three day summer festival celebrates the works of local crafters and artists. As well as being spread throughout the town, activities will be centred around the canal wharf and the historic canal workshops which will be open to the public with the blacksmith forge working.
There will also be craft and charity markets, street entertainment, a fun dog show and flower festival.
