Service of Remembrance

A short Service of Remembrance will be held at the HMS RINGTAIL Monument on Saturday 25 May 2013.  The service will remember the personnel who served at HMS RINGTAIL (RNAS Burscough) and it is open to all who wish to attend.  It would be appreciated if personnel planning to attend the event could contact Richard Houghton on 07961 582 694 so that an estimate of numbers attending can be obtained. People will start gathering from 1015, the Service will commence promptly at 1100. 

Members of the RNR Air Branch will be supporting the Battle of the Atlantic (BOA) 70^th Anniversary events in Liverpool over the Bank-Holiday weekend and a small contingent will take the opportunity to visit the site of this former Royal Naval Air Station to pay their respects and lay a wreath, members of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust will also be in attendance.  HMS RINGTAIL was operational between September 1943 and May 1946 and was used for the formation, training and work-up of FAA Squadrons which were able to embark on aircraft carriers in theIrish Sea before moving to operational theatres.  The airfield is no longer in use although several of the hangars are still standing.  The majority of the personnel who served at HMS RINGTAIL were members of the RNVR(Air); today’s RNR Air Branch is an integral part of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Reserve and is the direct descendant of the RNVR(A). 

The HMS RINGTAIL Memorial is on the B5242 (Pippin Street) on the roundabout at the junction with Tollgate Road.  The roundabout is approximately 200 metres from the A59 about 1 mile North-East of Ormskirk.  (Nearest Postcode L40 7SN).  The journey from central Liverpoolis 18 miles and will take approximately 50-60 minutes by car.  Off-road car Parking is available a short walk (250-300 metres) away from the memorial at the Bull and Dog Inn (5 Liverpool Road South, Burscough, L40 7SS) and the Beaufort Care Home (High Lane, Burscough, L40 7SN).  There is a pavement from both parking venues to the monument; the road is busy with traffic using the local industrial estate.  Parking at other locations should be done with due consideration to traffic and local residents.  A map of the area is at http://en.tracesofwar.com/article/22317/Memorial-HMS-Ringtail.htm There is no shelter at the site and attendees are advised to dress for the prevailing weather conditions.  The nearest toilets are at the Bull and Dog Inn.  The site is wheelchair accessible from both parking venues along the pavements. 

The service will be supported by Burscough Parish Council and the Lathom and Burscough Military Heritage Society (LBMHS) who were responsible for erecting the monument in 2004.  On completion of the service there will be the opportunity to take refreshments in the Bull and Dog Inn which was ‘the local pub’ for the Air Station.  A full menu and selection of beers and soft drinks are available from the bar, in addition Burscough Parish Council has kindly agreed to provide a small buffet.  

The Liaison Officer for the event is Cdr Gary DUFFIELD RNR (07894 048363)

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