WWII crash pilot to be honoured for saving town
A WORLD War Two pilot who crash-landed away from a town to save the lives of its residents 75 years ago will be honoured at a ceremony tomorrow.
Canadian William Stuart McMullen had suffered engine trouble during a training exercise, causing a wing of his Lancaster bomber to catch fire.
His crew of six parachuted to safety on his instructions near Darlington but he stayed at the controls to steer away from the County Durham town.
He radioed his last message to say: “It’s only me for it. There are thousands down below.”
Tomorrow evening marks the 75th anniversary of his bravery on January 15, 1945.
Had he been on an operational flight he would probably have won the Victoria Cross.
People will gather to remember him at a monument on a road named after him.
AAndy, who died in 1988 aged just 30, was a great singer and a big name in his own right – but memorabilia linked to him won’t fetch as much as keepsakes to do with the Bee Gees themselves. For instance, a good picture of the band taken in the studio or on stage in their late 1970s heyday will fetch £250 to £300, if it has good and clear authenticated signatures of brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin. A photo of Andy, however, might be worth £75 or so. Rock and pop memorabilia is still hugely popular and very collectable. The market boomed in the 1980s, when prices rocketed. The best sums are linked to legendary bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who, along with popular solo artists such as Madonna, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix.
My husband bought a Hacker Sovereign II RP25 radio many years ago from a bric-abrac stall at a garden party. It still works perfectly and the case is in excellent condition. Can you give us any idea of its age and value? Barbara Cronin, via email With pleasure… get yourselves tuned in! Hacker was founded by Ron and Arthur Hacker in the late 1950s and was based in Maidenhead, Berks. Your Sovereign is a 17 transistor radio made in the late 1960s. The set was known for its high-quality sound and portability. It came in either black or blue leatherette and while it has quite a utilitarian look, good examples of the Sovereign will fetch a few sovs today – typically £75 to £125. Radio collectors also like the early plastic designs inspired by the Art Deco era in the US and UK. Bakelite models in particular are very popular. The right design from a top firm can make several thousand pounds.
QA