Tickets now available, time to look out the dancing shoes. Vintage NAAFI Dance Dance to a selection of music from the decades, and dress, if you wish, in vintage styles from the 1940s to 1970s. Saturday 7th October at Montrose Royal British Legion Function Room. Tickets £10 (includes Finger Buffet) Available from MASHC Shop/Reception. Tel:01674 678222 or Neil Werninck Tel:01674 674600.

A commemoration ceremony was held on Friday 1st September at the Heritage Centre to commemorate the death of Lieutenant the Hon Francis McLaren MP who was killed in a flying accident at RFC Montrose on 30th August 1917. Francis McLaren was the younger son of Lord Aberconway. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College Oxford and entered Parliament as MP for Spalding in Lincolnshire in 1910. When the First World War broke out in August 1914 McLaren volunteered for active service. He was commissioned in the RNVR and fought at Gallipoli with the armoured car detachment. He was invalided out of the service but joined the RFC and trained to fly at Montrose. He was killed on his last solo flight when his aircraft crashed into the sea off Montrose. Chairman of Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre Ron Morris addressed the guests and welcomed members of the McLaren family. The Provost of Angus, Councillor Ronnie Proctor said “Flight today is an everyday occurrence. However in 1917 it was an extraordinary endeavour. Members of the Royal Flying Corps were pioneers of their age.” Group Captain Bob Kemp of the Scottish Commemoration Panel said “It is particularly appropriate to gather in Montrose to remember those killed in training. It was from Montrose that aircraft took off to become the first in France at the outbreak of the war”. Great nephew Charles McLaren, Lord Aberconway, also spoke, followed with a reading from great niece Mrs Diana McLaren, with prayers by grandson the Reverend Richard McLaren and the last post was played by bugler Charlie Gibson. Invited guests included the MP for Angus, Kirstene Hair, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, Mairi Gougeon, and Montrose councillors Ron Sturrock and Bill Duff.. The RAF was represented by Squadron Leader Clark, POS to the Air Officer Commanding Scotland and Group Captain Gibson. No2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth. The Royal Navy was represented by Lt Commander (retd) Bob Harley and the Scottish Commemoration Panel was represented by Dr Bill Maxwell. At the conclusion of the ceremonies there was a Flypast by Dr Neil Geddes in his replica SE5 aircraft of WW1.

A few more from today at the Open Families Weekend. I think we kept the children well entertained. The Fly-In at the Playing Fields played host to around 60 aircraft in all, probably turning it into one of the busiest airfields in Scotland over the two days.

A few pictures from today at the Families Open Weekend and still going tomorrow Sun 27th August with free entry from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Promoted as a Squadron Scramble after the world war two pilots who ran to their Spitfire aircraft when the alarm bell was rung, visitors will find lots of action to hold the attention. Over the weekend the centre’s own Red Lichtie replica Spitfire will have its cockpit open for vistors to sit in and take their selfie picture, complete in flying jacket, helmet and goggles. With activities for children including uniforms to try on, games and stalls. Visitors can, sound the air raid siren, man the machine gun and take-off on the Flight Simulator. Other aircraft on display include the BE2 and Sopwith Camel replicas from WW1, also a Miles Hawk, Gloster Meteor and a de-Havilland Vampire. Further activity, dependent on the weather, is also planned at the Broomfield Playing Fields where a light aircraft Fly-In has been organised with aircraft attending, 30 aircraft flew in today from as far afield as Wales and Liverpool.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre are holding a Families Open Weekend over this weekend - Sat 26th and Sun 27th August with free entry both days from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Promoted as a Squadron Scramble after the world war two pilots who ran to their Spitfire aircraft when the alarm bell was rung, visitors will find lots of action to hold the attention. Over the weekend the centre’s own Red Lichtie replica Spitfire will have its cockpit open for vistors to sit in and take their selfie picture, complete in flying jacket, helmet and goggles. With activities for children including uniforms to try on, games and stalls. Visitors can, sound the air raid siren, man the machine gun and take-off on the Flight Simulator. Other aircraft on display include the BE2 and Sopwith Camel replicas from WW1, also a Miles Hawk, Gloster Meteor and a de-Havilland Vampire. Further activity, dependent on the weather, is also planned at the Broomfield Playing Fields where a light aircraft Fly-In has been organised with aircraft attending from all over Scotland.

Vintage NAAFI Dance Dance to a selection of music from the decades, and dress, if you wish, in vintage styles from the 1940s to 1970s. Saturday 7th October at Montrose Royal British Legion Function Room. Tickets £10 (includes Finger Buffet) Available from MASHC Shop/Reception. Tel:01674 678222 or Neil Werninck Tel:01674 674600.

Open Weekend Sat 26th / Sun 27th August 10.00am t0 4.00pm - Free Entry. Light Aircraft Fly-In at Broomfield (subject to weather conditions)

Photos from Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre's post

Yesterday saw the reopening of the expanded 'Russians In Scotland' exhibiton, now located in the Richard Moss building at the centre. The ceremony was attended by Anna Belorusova, the Russian historian whose grandfather Commander Peter Kolesnikov, one of the pilots involved in the clandestine operation. The exhibition was opened by Georgiana Osborne, Lord Lieutnant for Angus and the Russian Consul General Andrey A Pritsepov. Other guests included Anastasia Ilinskaya, Russian Vice Consul General and the family of Peter Petrovichev one of the Russian airmen who trained at RAF Errol and returned to his homeland with an Artic Convoy sailing from Loch Ewe.

Caledonian Railway

Timeline Photos

100 year anniversary marking the death of Lieutenant Colonel Charles James Burke DSO He was the commanding officer of No.2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps when they established the first operational military air station in Great Britain at Montrose. He was a visionary when it came to the military use of aircraft and could foresee their immense potential when many military leaders were dismissing aircraft as a waste of time. He was Killed in Action on the first day of the Battle of Arras 9th April 1917 whilst commanding the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. For more information please go to http://rafmontrose.org.uk/burke/