Looking back to the Rasen Mail of ... 1981

This week, the Rasen Mail time machine heads back almost four decades.
One of the casualties of the continuing Covid crisis is the many village events, including carft and produce shows. This icturre shows some of those whoturned out to support the produce show at Binbrook in 1981One of the casualties of the continuing Covid crisis is the many village events, including carft and produce shows. This icturre shows some of those whoturned out to support the produce show at Binbrook in 1981
One of the casualties of the continuing Covid crisis is the many village events, including carft and produce shows. This icturre shows some of those whoturned out to support the produce show at Binbrook in 1981

Here are just two of the articles making it on to the front pages of the newspaper in 1981 – the first in September of that year and the second in May.

Wickenby Tribute

Cheers and waving from a 600-strong crowd signalled the arrival of the last operational Lancaster bomber which flew low over Wickenby airfield on Sunday.

The ‘City of Lincoln’ flew to pay tribute to the men who died while serving in Bomber Command from Wickenby.

People from all parts of the world showed genuine emotion as the legendary bomber circled the airfield four times as a finale to a special memorial service for the 1,080 airmen of Nos. 12 and 626 squadron.

The men died while on active service from the Wickenby base between September 1942 and May 1945.

A 9’ stone memorial, erected near the south entrance to the airstrip, was dedicated by former RAF Chaplain-in-Chief, the Rt Rev Frank Cocks, the retired Bishop of Shrewsbury.

While an RAF band played the airmen stood in silent salute as the Rt Rev Cocks received the standard of No 12 squadron before a large congregation.

Former members of the squadrons, who now live as far away as the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, heard the Rt Rev Cocks say that his memories of those war days became more vivid as time went on.

He commented: “It may be somewhat strange that we should be dedicating a memorial here 40 years after the endeavours in which those we are remembering were engaged.

“But sometimes it is only in the light of memories that we can recall people again. We can see them rather better than when they were alongside us day by day.”

Major scheme for church

A major renovation and improvement scheme is to be carried out on two market place buildings and the end result will be a church hall for Market Rasen.

Permission is at present being sought at district council level for the development of 17 and 18 Market Place which have, in recent years, been used as a pet shop, an antique shop and a dentists surgery.

The properties are the subject of a Preservation Order and careful considerations have been made to ensure that the present shell and character of the building is preserved.

Church Coun Mrs Anne Jones told the Mail that plans were afoot to gut the inside and convert the buildings into a modern church hall.

She said that it was hoped the church hall would prove to be a well-supported facility for the town and that there might eventually be opportunities for other local clubs or societies to make use of it.

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