THE founders of an annual event to remember air crews who have died as a result of crashes in Teesdale are to be honoured by Barnard Castle Town Council.
Town officials had planned to present Tony Galley and John Yarker with Civic Champion shields to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Teesdale Aviation Day next month.
However, this year’s service will not take place due to coronavirus restrictions and the duo will receive their awards at a later date.
Mayor Cllr John Blissett said the shields recognised their efforts over the past quarter of a century. Mr Galley and Mr Yarker, a former town councillor, came up with the idea while working at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution.
Mr Galley said he had been tasked with arranging a summer event that linked Deerbolt and its staff with the people of Barnard Castle and Teesdale by the then governor Peter Atkinson.
“While thinking of what I could do, I happened on a conversation with a good friend and colleague, John Yarker.
“I knew that John was an aviation archaeologist and had done a lot of work on licensed digs around the dale on crashed aircraft sites.
“John told me about the numbers of air accidents in Teesdale and the western Pennines, of the Teesdale Gap and of the dangerous terrain that had caused more than 100 air accidents in the last century or so.
“My burning question was whether there was a memorial to all these brave souls. John told me that apart from an odd individual memorial, there wasn’t.”
It was from that conversation the concept of Teesdale Aviation Day was born as the project for the summer of 1995.
Mr Galley added: “On the first Wednesday of July 1995, the first event was a major success. We had a massive crowd and lots of media interest and it seemed only right to keep it going.”
As the years went by the event developed to include the Royal Air Force Association Durham Region and The Royal Air Force, at Leeming.
For a few years it became a full day of activities, with military attractions, music and flypasts courtesy of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
“After our retirement John and I remained as organisers and with our band of dedicated helpers we continued until the memorial site in the grounds at Deerbolt was taken over for housing development,” said Mr Galley.
“If we were to continue, we needed a new home. Barnard Castle Town Council came to our rescue and had the site moved to its new position in Galgate, so we were able to continue.
“This year was to have been our 25th anniversary but, like many events, it has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 virus. We have no idea when it might take place and indeed it may be next year when we will all be able to meet again. I know how much Teesdale Aviation Day and its memorial means to many people.”
Civic Champion Shields were established by the town council as a way to recognise the efforts of people who have consistently supported and brought recognition to the town. They are awarded at the discretion of the town mayor, deputy mayor and past mayors and were purchased out of last year’s civic fund.
