Submitted by Group Leader Susan Howlett

Our stroll in October started from the Parfitt Drive car park in Farnsfield. It is named after Pilot Officer Reginald Parfitt who was the pilot of the Halifax Bomber which crashed just outside the village on the 6th July 1944. Reginald and his 6 man crew were all killed. 

The Halifax bomber had been on a mission to bomb the V1 Rocket launch site at Croix-Dalle in France. The pilot, Pilot Officer Parfitt, was struggling to reach the home airfield of Burn in Yorkshire, the aircraft having come under heavy anti-aircraft fire over Dieppe. As it passed Nottingham, one engine was reported to have been on fire and the aircraft was losing altitude. It managed to get as far as Farnsfield where it crashed with the loss of the entire crew.

Frank Reynolds was a young boy when the Bomber landed on his father’s land. He decided there should be a permanent memorial to mark the event and all the men who died should be recognised. With the help of Jack Wright a Trust was set up and on 6th July 1994 the fiftieth anniversary of the tragic event following a service in Saint Michael’s Church the memorial was erected.

The site includes native English trees and a pair of Canadian Maples as one of the men killed was from Canada.

Our walk took us along the High Street to St. Michael’s Church from where we used well marked tracks through the countryside. We saw alpacas and sheep grazing in an enclosure before reaching the Bomber Site. We all found it a very moving experience and found it hard to believe we had never visited before. We would encourage you to go and see for yourselves.

We are always pleased to see new members to join our strolls. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month. We walk between1.5 and 2.5miles making sure that there are no stiles or steep hills. At the end there is always the opportunity to have light refreshments and a good chat. You do not have to book, just turn up at the designated point in time to start walking at 10.30am. It is a good way to keep fit and make new friends.

Our final walk of the year is The Heritage Trail, starting at Sutton Reservoir NG17 1JS on November 12th. Please note there is a small Parking Charge.