Timeline Calne: 2 May 1945 - Calne's Welcome Home Fund

Victory Celebrations at Bryans Close Road
(Calne Heritage Centre Collection)

On 2 May 1945, the Mayor of Calne, Cllr Cyril Thomas, proposed the application for a Calne 'Welcome Home Fund'. This fund was registered with Wiltshire County Council under the War Charities Act, 1940, which was repealed in 1992.[1]

Rita Rickell writes in John Whiles Calne at War book that the origins of Calne's Welcome Home fund began in late 1944, when it looked as if the Second World War would finally come to an end.

Rita continues "Collecting boxes were mustered, labels for them were printed, and appeals went forth for folk to have fund raising events. According to hand written records in reference to this,a Mrs. Mlnnis made £7. 6s. 2d.by playing on"

All returing servicemen and women were given an initially wallet and a signed certificate. On 6 June 1945, the ex-prisoners of war were given a dinner at the Lansdowne Hotel.[2]

Thanks to Sharon Beaven for uploading a copy of the certificate to the Calne in Photographs Facebook group. The handsigned certificate to her father reads:

"To Frederick William Beaven

The inhabitants of Calne, Wiltshire, desire to extend a very warm welcome to you on your return to Civilian Life at the termination of your period of service in His Majesty's Forces.

The also wish to record their sincere appreciation of the loyal service you have rednered to your King and Country and o extend to you this formal expression of their gratitude together with a small gift.

On behalf of the Townspeople of Calne Borough

Cyril H. Thomas

Mayor of Calne" 

In total around 320 individuals were supported with the Calne Welcome Home Fund. Other local Welcome Homes funds included those for Lacock and Bowden Hill.

Around this time, Lance-Corporal Jack Stevens of the Somerset Light Infantry, from Calne, was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe[3].


Thankfully, on 8 May 1945, Germany surrended. After six years of war and the loss of millions of lives, the Allies had won the war and formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender. This year, while in lockdown due to the Coronavirus, Wiltshire Council is encouraging us to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day at home. Click here to see their advice and the VE Day pack.

References:
[1]  'War Charities Act, 1940'  Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 05 May 1945 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19450505/114/0006 [Accessed on 1 May 2020].
[2] Whiles, J., 1995. Calne at War. 1st ed. Chippenham: Antony Rowe.
[3]  'Awards for Service'  Western Gazette, Friday 11 May 1945 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19450511/060/0008 [Accessed on 1 May 2020]
Note: For more information on military history, please visit Calne Heritage Centre.

Place Names of Calne: Aircraft

Hurricane Drive

In recent years there have been some developments in Calne that have followed the theme of aircraft, both developments are accessed via Sandpit Road. The transport aircraft theme is accessed via Hercules Road, with the fighter themed streets (suggested in the Calne Town Development and Planning Committee of September 15, 2015) is accessed via Spitfire Road and include:

Street Name	Full Name	First Flight	Produced	Role
Anson Avenue	Avro Anson	24 March 1935	1930s-1952	Multirole aircraft, primarily a trainer
Britannia Drive	Royal Air Force (Bristol) Britannia C.1/C.2	16 August 1952	1952-1960	Long range Airliner
Comet Crescent	de Havilland Comet (Comet T2)	27 July 1949	1949–1964	Narrow-body jet airliner. RAF variant for crew training
Dakota Drive	Dakota II (Douglas DC-3)	17 December 1935	1936–1942, 1950	Military transport aircraft
Hastings Drive	Handley Page Hastings	7 May 1946	1947 – 1952	Transport aircraft
Hercules Road	Lockheed C-130 Hercules	23 August 1954	1954–present	Military transport aircraft
Hunter Close	Hawker Hunter	20 July 1951	1954-2014	Fighter / Ground Attack / Reconnaissance aircraft
Hurricane Drive	Hawker Hurricane	6 November 1935	1937–1944	Fighter
Lightning Road	Lockheed P-38 Lightning	27 January 1939	1941-1945	Heavy Fighter
Spitfire Road	Supermarine Spitfire	5 March 1936	1938-1948	Fighter / Photo-reconnaissance aircraft
Tornado Close	Hawker Tornado	6 October 1939	Only 4 built	Single seat Fighter
York Road	Avro York	5 July 1942	1943–1948	Transport

The Hercules Road development by Redrow Homes, was granted on appeal, but remained controversial. However the developer did contribute £450,000 to local education, improvements to Anchor Road community park, and to upgrade pedestrian and cycle facilities[1]. The development contains 2,3, and 4 bedroom homes of differing styles. The names for this development were decided in 2011, when Councillor A Hill suggested incorporating 'Hercules' due to the close bond between Calne and RAF Lyneham. Councillor Plenty, and mayor at the time, suggested 'Anson' due to the link between Calne and Yatesbury. These names and the others for this development were agreed at the same time[2].

The development off Spitfire Road was also initially refused in 2013, before being approved with an amended site plan in 2015[3].

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Britannia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Hastings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Tornado

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_York

Resources: 
[1] The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 2019. Disputed homes in Calne set to be built | The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/8631042.disputed-homes-in-calne-set-to-be-built/. [Accessed 17 July 2019]. 
[2]  CALNE TOWN COUNCIL TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, 29 March 2011.
[3] N/10/03389/FUL

 

To discover more about the place names of Calne, buy the book: