Memorial benches dedicated at airport

The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association dedicated three new memorial benches at Tillsonburg Airport on Oct. 3. Taking part in the ceremony were: John Glayster, a veteran and volunteer; Walther Irie, president; Diana Spremo, public relations; Charles Thomson, pipe; Logan Lawrence, volunteer and cadet representative; and John Britton, vice-president. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Three new memorial benches offer an ideal place to watch planes arriving and departing from Tillsonburg Airport.

In a ceremony on Oct. 3, a piper led a colour party marching from the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association hangar to the new benches east of the airport terminal building. The families of Harvard association founders Bob Hewitt, Len Fallowfield, and Norm Beckham each donated a bench in memory of their relative.

The association was founded 41 years ago in Woodstock, and then moved to Tillsonburg and purchased its first hangar.

“This was set up by these guys as a reminder of the Harvards and how much Canada invested in training through the British Commonwealth Air Training Program, and later through NATO,” said association vice-president John Britton.

The concept is that the benches, which are set in a temporary location, will eventually be part of a memorial garden set up at the airport. A committee will start shortly to fundraise for the garden, which will include a full-size replica of a Spitfire. The goal is to have the garden complete in 2027 or 2028.