Supermarine
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Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home now available on Kindle worldwide! 08/11/2012
Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home This is the second novel in The Riduna Series by Diana Jackson NOW AVAILABLE AS A PAPERBACK AND ON KINDLE WORLDWIDE~ 7th November 2012! SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS Local historian in the history of aviation in the Southampton area, Colin van Geffen writes: “In Ancasta, against the background of the…
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BBC Radio Solent. Diana and Colin have a chat with Katie Martin
I met Colin van Geffen, (the local artist who designed my covers and historian who checked some of my facts) outside the Bitterne Heritage Centre. Both Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home and Riduna are for sale there. It seemed a fitting place to meet since that’s where my research in the area began several…
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‘Schneider Trophy to Spitfire’ by John Shelton
I bought a copy of John Shelton’s comprehensive reference book ‘Schneider Trophy to Spitfire‘ when visiting the RAF Museum in Hendon. With its chronological factual information, enhanced by original photographs, diagrams, adverts and anecdotes, it a an extremely readable history of early flying boats leading to the development of the Spitfire. Looking at the double…
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I’m leaving, on a Sea Plane, Don’t Know When I’ll be Back Again!
The Loch was calm, the sun was shining through scattered cloud and the air was still and warm as we waited for the arrival of the sea plane which was to take us on one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. It had been my greatest wish to fly in a sea plane or flying…
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To The Bitterne Heritage Centre BLHS ~ Many thanks
Anyone who is interested in local history of the area near Southampton, north of the River Itchen including Bitterne and Woolston, would enjoy popping into the Bitterne Heritage Centre on Peartree Avenue. There are all sorts of artifacts donated by local people which they sometimes loan to schools in the area, but it is also…
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Colin van Geffen – Local Historian and Artist
This is the first in a series of blogs to acknowledge the many people who have given me support and encouragement during the research and draft stage of my novel Ancasta – Guide me Swiftly Home. Colin van Geffen I have a great deal to thank Colin van Geffen for. Firstly he gave me a…
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May 1912 Amazing Flying Facts
On our way home from Cornwall I was enthusiastic to visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. As I explained in my talk last Monday, I never imagined I’d become a ‘flying boat’ anorak, but I was so excited to see models of the first ever aircraft carriers during World War…
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Why Woolston and The Channel Islands are Linked in History
Woolston and The Channel Islands have been inextricably linked over the last few centuries! Steamers to Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney left from docks just across the Itchen Ferry from Woolston for over a century and previously by sail. In fact before that, in the 18th century, Jersey was the fourth largest shipbuilder in the UK. I’ve just found a wonderful…