The Air Force Memorial, Runnymede UK

[Davec223]

Hi,
The following pictures were taken at The Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede. This is just outside London near Windsor Berkshire. There are over 20,000 names on the walls of the building which I found to be very emotional to look at. ( I must confess to shedding a few tears while I was there.) Many of those who died and are remembered here and on memorials alll round the world were lost without trace and there graves are unknown.

The Memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe and the land where it stands was donated by Sir Eugen and Lady Effie Millington-Drake.

The memorial consists of a shrine that is embraced by a cloister in which the names of the dead are recorded. These are grouped by the year that they died. The coat of arms of the Commonwealth countries are painted on the Cloister ceilings

The Cloisters have curved wings that finish in 2 lookouts.

Engraved on the Great north window of the shrine are words from the Airmans Psalm ( Psalm 139)

If I climb up into Heaven, Thou art there:
If I go to hell, Thou art there also.
If I take the wings of the morning
And remain in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there also shall Thy hand lead me:
And Thy right hand shall hold me

Above the Angels flanking the text are engraved vapour trails taken from pictures of the Battle of Britain. The design is by John Hutton who is also responsible for the painted ceilings in the Shrine and lookouts.

From the Shrine there are 2 spiral staircases that lead to a gellery, where on a window engraved is a poem by a student by the name of Paul H Scott, which he wrote soon after the completion of the Memorial.

From the Gallery another staircase leads up to the roof of the tower which has an Astral crown of Blue and Gold mounted on it.






































God Bless them all and My thoughts go out to all their famlies. Without brave men like these we would not be free like we are today. __________________
Regards

Dave
D80,MB-D80 Nikon 18-70 AF-S. Sigma 70-210. Sigma 24-70 2.8. Nikkor 50 1.8. Sigma 70-300 DG Macro. SB-800 and SB-22. Manfrotto mono and tripod. Lowepro Slingshot 200AW.

[Mr. Pickles]

A good looking memorial, captured fairly well. Some seem over-exposed a bit with pretty wased out skies. But still, nice captures and a good job of keeping all the other folks away while you snapped images...

[Davec223]

Thanks for the comments, Light was awful that day, I will try re processing them when I get a chance and re post them.