A 'priceless' trophy is back home
Jan 12 2009 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal
A "PRICELESS" trophy that has been missing since the Second World War has been returned to its Northumberland home after being found at an auction more than six decades later.
The silver cup was recently returned to the Bedlington Squadron Air Training Corps by a Wallsend man who spotted it in an assorted lot at a Whitley Bay auction.
Markings on the cup show that it had been awarded to the best flight in the in-flight competitions held in 1942, 1943 and 1944. The last recipient of the trophy was a Flight Sergeant Bell in 1944.
How the trophy had ended up in the auction is still a mystery. But now it has been restored to its rightful place at the Bedlington Squadron.
Flight Lieutenant William Booth, Commanding Officer at the Bedlington Squadron, said: “In 1944, a trophy was given out and somehow it went missing for over 60 years before it was found in a box for sale at auction.
“When we were offered the chance to have it back, we were thrilled as we have no other trophies from so long ago so it really is an heirloom. When we got the trophy, it was in quite a bad state so we polished it and once restored, this revealed some quite intricate detailing on the side. I’m not sure how much it’s worth, but to us, it’s priceless. We’ve decided to award the trophy every year to cadets who show the most effort.”
And now that the trophy has been restored to its former glory, Flight Lieutenant Booth, a 44-year-old father-of-two from Cramlington, is hoping to learn more about its origins.
“The only clue we’ve had about the history of the trophy was a former cadet who said he vaguely remembered it being at the squadron,” he said.
“I’m sure that there is someone out there who knows something about this and I urge them to come forward.”
Anyone who has any information about the trophy is asked to contact the organisation on (0191) 213-1919 or to visit the squadron on Waverley Drive, Bedlington, on a Monday or Thursday evening between 7pm and 9.30pm.
