Bradley memorial spruced up ahead of service (From Craven Herald)
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Bradley memorial spruced up ahead of service
11:00am Friday 28th September 2012 in News
Yorkshire Building Society manager Natalie Bolton and Vanesa Nelson (customer service) help clean the memorial
A memorial, erected to commemorate seven Polish airmen killed when their Wellington bomber crashed near Bradley in September 1943, has been spruced up.
Staff from the Skipton branch of Yorkshire Building Society sprung into action to help loyal customer Kathleen Hartley, whose husband, Jim, always tidied up the monument ahead of the annual memorial service.
Sadly, Jim died earlier this year.
After several conversations with Mrs Hartley, Skipton branch manager Natalie Bolton pledged the support of herself and her staff to prepare the memorial site for this year’s service, which took place on Sunday.
“We were very sad to hear of Jim’s passing but we are glad that we have been able to support his wife Kathleen in ensuring the continuation of the memorial and the service,” said Natalie.
“The memorial commemorates a very sad tale of young men who died during a routine training flight and I admire Jim’s hard work and perseverance to ensure they are remembered.
“This is a very important legacy for us and future generations in Skipton and I am proud that our team will be able to do our bit to preserve the memorial.”
The memorial, which lists the names of the dead crew, was unveiled in April 2007 thanks to the campaigning of Mr Hartley and local historian Peter Whitaker. Their efforts were recognised with the presentation of the Polish Pro Memoria Award.
The crew comprised pilot Franciszek Ciaston, 27, second pilot Sierz Ostrowski, 27, navigator Josef Wolnik, 31, wireless operator/air gunners Boleslaw Swieca, 28, and Boleslaw Rychel, 21, air gunner Jan Czyzewski, 23, and flight sergeant Sierz Kawenski, 22.
