Crocheted Spitfire tribute to Polish RAF pilots removed for Christmas displays
A controversial decision has been made by the management of a UK shopping center in 2023. The life-size crocheted Spitfire, a poignant tribute to Polish RAF pilots, will be removed ahead of Remembrance Sunday to make way for Christmas festivities.
The artwork, a collaboration between Bootle's Men in Sheds Association and Southport Hookers, has been a popular attraction since its unveiling. Hundreds of visitors have come to admire it and pay respects to the 12 Polish pilots based at nearby RAF Woodvale who lost their lives defending Britain. Visitors have expressed disappointment at its removal, especially as Remembrance Sunday approaches.
The Spitfire, which commemorates the 145 Polish fighter pilots who served with the RAF during the Battle of Britain, will be dismantled today. Contractors will start erecting the Christmas tree and lights on Monday morning, as the site is also the centerpiece of Southport's Christmas festivities. The organisers of the Christmas festivities say the site must be cleared in advance for the contractors to start work. It is hoped that the artwork can be put back together and go on display in another town next year.
The removal of the Spitfire has sparked frustration among visitors and locals alike. However, the local Royal British Legion assures that its focus for Remembrance Sunday remains the annual civic commemoration at Southport's war memorial. The fate of the crocheted Spitfire, after its dismantling, is yet to be determined.
