Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome Frontline:Legacy

The popular seminar returns!

A one-day focused history seminar, on an original Great War site, in an original great War Building?

Tell me more!

Frontline: Legacy is a opportunity and an annual, must-go event for the Great War history enthusiast. You will join a restricted number of your peers as you explore a specific area of this wide ranging and complicated field.

With talks this year ranging from the tribulations of recreating a Great War Aircraft ( from drawing board to actual flight) to the challenges of operating one in an aeronautical display, you can guarentee an interesting an exciting day.

This year, the theme is 'Legacy'.

Our speakers will explore how the work and activity of the Great War still resonates today, in 2025. The three speakers will give their own presentations to illustrate this.

The day will be compered by local historian Mr Stephen Nunn, a previous speaker, popular author and columnist.

The day includes up-close and personal tours of aircraft, handling sessions and book signings, as well as lunch in the orginal 1917 Airmen's Mess.

Finishing off the day with a Q&A session with our expects, you will leave informed, educated and excited about a day well spent.

Propeller Members are eligible for a reduced admission fee to this event. Please contact the Propeller Club team to arrange this.

Compere:

Stephen P. Nunn was born in Maldon. His family has been associated with the town for centuries. He has been passionate about Maldon’s history and archaeology since childhood.

A founder member of the Maldon Archaeological Group in 1977, he writes extensively. His articles have covered the Roman period through to the Second World War. He is a regular columnist in the Essex Chronicle, the Maldon & Burnham Standard and has been published in The Field, The Guardian and The Dalesman.as well as appearing on TV and on radio.

As well as contributing to other people’s books, he has written ten of his own. He is an Honorary Freeman of Maldon, former Maldon Town Mayor and previous both Deputy Leader and Vice-Chairman of Maldon District Council.

The Speakers

Following a nearly a decade in the Royal Air Force, Neil Richardson took his knowledge and skills to the civilian Aviation industry. There, he has occupied a variety of positions of responsibility, presently being in one focused on Aviation Safety.

Since 2021, Neil has also been an active volunteer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The CWGC’s 2500 volunteers work tirelessly in a variety of ways. Neil is a keen part of the Speakers Programme, as well as working actively in support of the ‘Eyes on, Hands on’ Headstone monitoring programme. Having always had an interest in the World Wars and having visited many CWGC sites over the years, (including his Great Grand Uncle’s, in Gallipoli), Neil was naturally drawn to the human stories at the centre of such campaigns.

The Talk:

The Work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission [CWGC] commemorates more than 1.7 million men and women around the world. Each has their own story to tell and their own war grave or memorial inscription to care for.

Neil Richardson, as part of the CWGC, will share with you the origins of the CWGC, how its founding principles were created and how they are upheld through various programmes in today’s world. Touching upon some less well-known sites and more local examples, he will highlight the extent and varied aspect of the CWGC work from commemoration, architecture, horticulture and rededications, as well as the numerous public engagement activities, available to all, that align to the legacy that CWGC wishes to cultivate in the modern era.

Born to a military family in Egypt, Gerard Lohan moved to London when he was two and embarked on a very odd and varied career. With an uncle who flew P51 Mustangs, it was inevitable that Gerard would become interested in aircraft. Added to that, Gerard played Jack Hawkin's son in the film 'Man in the Sky', lingering often with the real star of the film, the Bristol Superfreighter! Gerard took an erratic path, professionally, ranging from Pure Science to Playwright, and onto teaching 400 BT engineers how to be multimedia presenters. On retirement, he joined the Aviation Preservation Society Scotland and their project to build a full sized flying Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter. Although originally interested in filming the build, he was soon the fundraiser - and co-ordinating the external communications and outreach of the project. 12 years later, Gerard is still enjoying every twist and turn of ‘Sophie's story.

The Talk:

Sophie’s Adventure

The story of ‘Sophie’, the Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter built from scratch in Scotland is like something from a feature film. The work of her amazing elderly creators to bring her to life - and into the air - is as inspirational as it is dramatic. Having documented the project for 12 years and experienced every twist and turn along the way, Gerard Lohan will place the story into context both historically and culturally, while illustrating that for most people, retirement is only the beginning of another adventure.

Richard Vary​ is the owner and operator of G-DREI, a replica of 425/17, one of two all-red triplanes flown by Baron Von Richthofen. Richard has been flying vintage aeroplanes of one sort or another since he was an air cadet (although they weren’t vintage then!). He is also a member of the famous Tiger Club’s Turbulent Display Team - meaning he has rebuilt several vintage Turbulent aircraft to flying condition. He has built a replica Nieuport which won the Light Aircraft Association’s Albert Codling trophy. He is the author of ‘The Biplane in the Garden”, which documents the project. Outside of his all-consuming aviation antics, he is a practicing patent lawyer and a part time Judge.

The Talk:

Airborne in the shadow of von Richthofen:

Operating a historic triplane in 2025.

Flying and maintaining G-DREI, a reproduction Fokker Tri-plane, is no easy feat. Join Richard as he soars through the many challenges that present themselves to anyone attempting it! Richard will explore the technical side of flying the aircraft solo, then being in a formation – and how it differs from modern aircraft. He will include aspects of the historical performance of the aircraft type in combat, with its low forward visibility and limited power range and touch on the then-revolutionary design of the type and its peers. Bringing the audience up to modern day, Richard will discuss the challenges of operating from a modern base relative to the way the type did in 1917, including the concessions necessary to keeping this wonderful craft airborne in 2025.

The Tours

As part of your admission, you will enjoy a behind-the-rope tour of the Aircraft collection, showcasing the rare Albatros, Tabloid, Avro and BE2e aircraft. During the tour, you will be free to take photographs and ask questions.

Handling Sessions You will have a chance to get hands-on with a selection of our Objects, drawn from the collections indivudually for this year's event.

Lunch

Lunch will be a buffet style affair, with refreshments, as part of your admission. It will be served in the1917 Airmen's Mess. Yes - you will eat where the personnel of 37 Sqn, RFC (later RAF) ate!

You will be able to purchase additional drinks and snacks during the day from our Cafe.