In researching the life of former OC10 Arthur Whitelock, our researcher member Chris Eve, discovered that there was an RAF airfield just north of the picturesque village of Bibury where the Association replaced the headstone of Arthur and Frances Whitelock in May 2021.
Brief information about the old RAF Bibury airfield may be found in this copy of a local tourist information brochure which mentions:
and Wikipedia states:
The airfield was built in 1939 for use as a relief landing ground for training aircraft from nearby RAF South Cerney. In the Battle of Britain it was used to base detachments of fighter aircraft. Hurricanes of 87 Sqn arrived on detachment in August 1940 and were then replaced by a detachment from 92 Sqn Spitfires until September when the 87 Sqn detachment returned until the end of the year. During the Battle of Britain the airfield had very few buildings and a grass runway. It was not used for flying after 1944 and was a maintenance unit base until it closed in 1945.
On 8 May 2021, the 76th Anniversary of VE-Day, a former Officer Commanding No 10 Squadron was remembered when the 10 Sqn Association's efforts to replace his weather-worn grave headstone came to fruition in a Gloucestershire village cemetery.
Wg Cdr Arthur Whitelock, who designed the original Squadron Badge & Motto during his command from 1929-30, lived with his wife Frances in Cirencester after his retirement from the RAF at the beginning of WW2.
Their ashes were interred in the cemetery at Bibury to the north of their home and the Association has spent two years attempting to find relatives and subsequently to obtain permission to replace the Whitelock's eroded headstone.
A small ceremony to inaugurate the new locally-made stone was held on a day which was probably the wettest May day on record. Improvised plans were made at the last minute to conduct most of the dedication service inside the lovely Bibury church of St Mary's and it was only the final unveiling that was undertaken in the wet, grassy cemetery a hundred or so yards away. Three former OC10s honoured their predecessor, together with a Covid-19 regulated limited number of other attendees.
See a fuller Report here: OC10's Headstone Replaced in Bibury Cemetery
and a selection of photos taken on a very rainy day here: Images at Bibury
Our former Chairman David Mole recently advised that an amazing coincidence had occurred on Remembrance Day 11 November 2020 as a result of a young 12 year old girl paying attention to what her teacher was telling her.
Read the linked files below to learn more.
Those Roman Catholics amongst you will probably appreciate the impact of this more than those of other persuasions.
November 2020
A quick mention here of Jane Gulliford-Lowes recent book, "Above Us The Stars" - more of which may be seen via the Top Menu Research/Books section. Although completely factual about a 10 Sqn WW2 Wireless Operator, it reads like a novel and is well worth considering for Christmas.
This high-quality paperback is written by our member: 
Jane Gulliford-Lowes who runs one of the the Association's Facebook links.
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(And talking of books.......Copies of our 10 Sqn Centennial History, "From Brooklands to Brize" are also available for Christmas.
- Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get a "Covid-2020 pre-Christmas Crewroom Discount" off the normal £30 p&p price.