Sir Keith Park statue planned for Thames in $250k project

[Dave Homewood]

Sir Keith Park statue planned for Thames in $250k project
TERESA RAMSEY
Last updated 11:46, December 20 2017


Thames RSA president David Sinton, left, and committee member Bill Rolfe are part of a team who want to install a life-sized bronze statue of Sir Keith Park in Thames.

The Thames RSA plans to install a life-sized bronze statue of Sir Keith Park in a project estimated to cost about $250,000.

Thames RSA president David Sinton said the RSA wanted the statue installed in Thames township at a site yet to be decided.

"We're doing a campaign to have a memorial to Sir Keith Park, one of our most famous sons," he said.

"A lot of people from Thames didn't even know this is where he was born and brought up."

Sintin said he had support from the New Zealand Returned and Services Association and Thames Coromandel District Council, but the project wouldn't be funded by council.

"We think it's a nationwide appeal, so we'll form a committee from some quite well-known New Zealand people and go to bat and see if we can raise some money and put a proper memorial for a very, very famous gentleman."

Air Chief Marshal Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC was born in June 1892 and died in February, 1975. He was a New Zealand soldier, a pilot in World War I and was a Royal Air Force commander in World War II.

In operational command during two of the most significant air battles on World War II, Park helped win the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Malta, and in Germany, he was supposedly known as "the defender of London".

Park is currently remembered with a stone memorial outside the ATC headquarters at the Thames Aerodrome, which is currently named after him.

However, Sintin said more needed to be done.

"A lot of tourists go to the airport and ask 'where is the memorial?' because the airport is Sir Keith Park Airfield," he said.

"If it was in town, those tourists would come into town, they would spend ... you have to be a little bit streetwise about it and help promote the town."

Sintin said the RSA would like to see the statue placed either by the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre in Mary St or on the corner of Mary and Rolleston streets, next to The Club.

The sculpture would be commissioned by an artist and sit on a pedestal.

"I think the town will get behind it and I think Coromandel will get behind it," Sintin said.

- Stuff

[biggles7]

Members may not be aware that a statue is to be erected in Thames portraying Keith Park. ( Hauraki Herald 22nd Dec 2017)
Planed by the Thames RSA the life size bronze statue estimated to cost $250000 will be erected on a site yet to be decided but may be placed near the present Thames War Memorial in Mary Street. Sir Keith was born near Totara June 1892 and Died at Auckland February 1975. He had very distinguished careers in World War 1 and World War 11 being at Gallipoli and the Western Front 1915 - 1916 then transferring to the RFC 1917 and finally the RAF. At present the only tangible ties to Sir Keith is The airfield at Thames named in his honour and a stone memorial outside the ATC building on the airfield. Apparently tourists and "buffs" making their pilgrimages to see where the great man came from are disappointed he has not been recognised in a way a man of his stature should be .

[Dave Homewood]

I have merged your comment into the existing thread, Biggles7.