Post by Martin on Jan 30, 2010 21:08:46 GMT
This article has appeared on the website yourcanterbury.co.uk (HERE) today announcing a series of UK commemoration concerts involving Hayley. Note that no other information is included nor confirmed.
New campaign to celebrate the heroics of The Few
KENT NEWS: A campaign saluting the brave men of the Battle of Britain is being launched as part of this year’s 70th anniversary commemorations.
And to bring home the harsh realities of what really happened in the skies above Kent and the English Channel, valuable unseen footage and personal interviews are being released for the very first time.
Maidstone-based organisation Their Finest Hour Ltd has spent the past five years raising awareness of the famous battle, which marked the first defeat of Hitler’s military forces.
But with the new project, founder John Hammond hopes to take the campaign to another level.
“We want to show people the lives and emotions of the pilots who bravely fought in the battle,” he said.
“People don’t always think about the close relationships these men built up, only for them to lose their comrades.
“But we want to show this in an interesting and entertaining way so people will see the realities and learn more about what happened.”
The initiative includes the release of a series of books for adults and children, a 20-part television series and DVDs, plus a new feature film set for release in 2012.
KOS Media is giving its support to the project to help commemorate the famous battle, which took the lives of more than 500 RAF personnel.
Of the estimated 2,000 that fought, there are 100 still alive today with a small number living in Kent.
There were a number of RAF bases in the county used by squadrons fighting in the Battle of Britain.
RAF Biggin Hill was the principle fighter base and home to the sector operations team and staff, but squadrons were also based at Hawkinge, Gravesend, West Malling and Manston.
RAF Lympne was used on a day-to-day basis, but due to its position it was under constant threat of attack and was not permanently manned by any one squadron.
Mr Hammond said: “We’re looking to reach people and inform and educate them and we think KOS Media readers will be receptive to that.”
The project, which is being partially backed by the RAF Benevolent Fund, also includes the production of a commemorative CD, featuring British classical composer Karl Jenkins.
Models, toys and limited edition collector’s pieces are also being made.
Discussions are currently underway with the British Legion, EMI and the RAF Benevolent Fund about holding concerts across the country.
A second series of concerts are also being planned featuring the newly crowned forces sweetheart Hayley Westenra.
But Mr Hammond, who is a TV producer, hopes the campaign will not only heighten awareness, but bring fresh information to people nationwide.
“There are things that people just don’t know, things that weren’t shown in the film of recorded in history books,” he said.
“Through the DVDs and books I think we’re bringing fresh information to the table.
“This isn’t just a chronological account – it shows the emotions and lives of the pilots. It shows the relationships that were built up and lost.
“It also gives details about the Hurricanes and Spitfires that were used in the battle that I don’t think have been published before.”
But Mr Hammond admits the project has been hard work and there is still more to come, including charity dinners and auctions and the completion of the new feature film.
The Battle of Britain, which took place between July and September 1940, was one of the most famous battles in World War Two.
It began when the German air force, Luftwaffe, tried to gain control of the Straits of Dover.
Despite Britain’s comparatively small number of 1,660 frontline planes to Germany’s 4,000, the British air force was successful in battle.
The then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill was quoted as saying: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
KENT NEWS: A campaign saluting the brave men of the Battle of Britain is being launched as part of this year’s 70th anniversary commemorations.
And to bring home the harsh realities of what really happened in the skies above Kent and the English Channel, valuable unseen footage and personal interviews are being released for the very first time.
Maidstone-based organisation Their Finest Hour Ltd has spent the past five years raising awareness of the famous battle, which marked the first defeat of Hitler’s military forces.
But with the new project, founder John Hammond hopes to take the campaign to another level.
“We want to show people the lives and emotions of the pilots who bravely fought in the battle,” he said.
“People don’t always think about the close relationships these men built up, only for them to lose their comrades.
“But we want to show this in an interesting and entertaining way so people will see the realities and learn more about what happened.”
The initiative includes the release of a series of books for adults and children, a 20-part television series and DVDs, plus a new feature film set for release in 2012.
KOS Media is giving its support to the project to help commemorate the famous battle, which took the lives of more than 500 RAF personnel.
Of the estimated 2,000 that fought, there are 100 still alive today with a small number living in Kent.
There were a number of RAF bases in the county used by squadrons fighting in the Battle of Britain.
RAF Biggin Hill was the principle fighter base and home to the sector operations team and staff, but squadrons were also based at Hawkinge, Gravesend, West Malling and Manston.
RAF Lympne was used on a day-to-day basis, but due to its position it was under constant threat of attack and was not permanently manned by any one squadron.
Mr Hammond said: “We’re looking to reach people and inform and educate them and we think KOS Media readers will be receptive to that.”
The project, which is being partially backed by the RAF Benevolent Fund, also includes the production of a commemorative CD, featuring British classical composer Karl Jenkins.
Models, toys and limited edition collector’s pieces are also being made.
Discussions are currently underway with the British Legion, EMI and the RAF Benevolent Fund about holding concerts across the country.
A second series of concerts are also being planned featuring the newly crowned forces sweetheart Hayley Westenra.
But Mr Hammond, who is a TV producer, hopes the campaign will not only heighten awareness, but bring fresh information to people nationwide.
“There are things that people just don’t know, things that weren’t shown in the film of recorded in history books,” he said.
“Through the DVDs and books I think we’re bringing fresh information to the table.
“This isn’t just a chronological account – it shows the emotions and lives of the pilots. It shows the relationships that were built up and lost.
“It also gives details about the Hurricanes and Spitfires that were used in the battle that I don’t think have been published before.”
But Mr Hammond admits the project has been hard work and there is still more to come, including charity dinners and auctions and the completion of the new feature film.
The Battle of Britain, which took place between July and September 1940, was one of the most famous battles in World War Two.
It began when the German air force, Luftwaffe, tried to gain control of the Straits of Dover.
Despite Britain’s comparatively small number of 1,660 frontline planes to Germany’s 4,000, the British air force was successful in battle.
The then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill was quoted as saying: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
