The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
RAF to restore model of Nimrod from town park
● Weathered miniature aircraft marks links with military base
Amodel of an iconic RAF aircraft that sits in a Forres memorial park has been removed for much-needed refurbishment.
The Nimrod Maritime Patrol plane is in the Veterans’ Garden in Roysvale Park and serves as a reminder to the local community of the good relationship between the former RAF Kinloss base and Forres.
Nimrods operated out of RAF Kinloss until it closed in 2011.
The model, made from wood and steel, has deteriorated in recent years and has now been taken away by RAF personnel who have volunteered to get it back in top shape.
It will be cleaned, stripped, repaired and repainted then returned to Forres in a few months.
Sergeant Andy Holborn, an engineer who will work on the new P-8A maritime patrol aircraft coming to RAF Lossiemouth, is coordinating the work with the support of Forres Community Council.
He said: “This Nimrod model is a lovely tribute, but when a colleague noticed it was starting to look a little worse for wear we decided to try to get it fixed.
“With the help of various sections on the station hopefully we’ll be able to bring this Nimrod back to its former glory and make it a suitable memorial to the men and women who operated the aircraft from RAF Kinloss.”
The model and the garden in Roysvale Park also serves as a memorial to Nimrod personnel who have died in service.
Moray MP Douglas Ross attended the removal and said it was important to have a reminder of the importance of the armed forces to the town.
He said: “The Nimrod provides a very suitable centrepiece which reminds us of the service of the many generations who served on them while based at RAF Kinloss.
“The model Nimrod has been showing some signs of weather damage and it’s good the RAF have agreed to restore it.
“This is an important local landmark and memorial and I look forward to seeing it when it returns, fully refurbished, to its rightful place.”