Matform Signs Up With Battle of Britain Memorial Woodland

Aug. 12, 2009 - PRLog -- Matform has been actively involved with putting the finishing touches to a new memorial woodland in honour of those who served at RAF Air Station Tangmere during World War II’s Battle of Britain Campaign.

The company was initially approached to manufacture anodised commemorative plaques to inform visitors about the transformation of about 2,000 square metres of scrubland near Chichester.

Matform was so taken by the community project that it decided to do the work at cost price. In addition the management donated the mahogany plinths, weatherproof Perspex covers, and even fitted them free of charge.

John Kelly demonstrated that he’s a hands-on Managing Director by mucking in to get the outdoor task done in double-quick time alongside Graham Mullan, Matform’s Metal Workshop Manager.

The Tangmere Battle of Britain Memorial Woodland is the brainchild of local resident Paul Neary.

The semi-retired accountant wanted to provide a perpetual woodland which would salute the memory of those who served at RAF Tangmere in the summer of 1940, and in addition offer a natural habitat for wildlife and insects.

The worst enemy raid on the air station came on August 16, 1940 when 100 Junkers Stuka dive bombers and fighters crossed the coast and the majority headed for Tangmere.

Fourteen service personnel and six civilian were killed and there was extensive damage to buildings and aircraft on the ground. In an amazing show of fortitude the air station carried on and did not close even for a single hour.

Mr Neary was successful in securing funding from organisations which included the Big Lottery Fund, Sita Trust, BBC’s Breathing Places, Woodland Trust, Chichester District Council and Tangmere Parish Council.

Along with a small band of conservation volunteers, he was also largely responsible for clearing the scrubland, which is owned by Tangmere Parish Council and borders the allotments. This involved removing waste concrete, which was a throwback to the days when it was an active airfield, reclaiming the soil and making good the topsoil.

Over the course of the project he estimates that he has engaged the services of about 400 students from Chichester University and Chichester College to assist in tree planting and fencing.

The site has been planted with native hedgerows including hawthorn, blackthorn and buckthorn, and about 200 trees which are largely English native, but also include liquid amber, honey locus and maple trees to honour the Commonwealth personnel.

The Memorial Woodland, which has now been handed over to the parish council for continued management, required the addition of informative, weatherproof signs.

Project Leader, Mr Neary estimated he contacted about 20 companies via their websites.

“These included large companies who made signs for boats and aircraft, and firms who did pub signs.

“The only company which seemed to understand what it was that I was talking about was Matform. I spoke to Sales Director, Paul Down, and he assured me that Matform could undertake the work proficiently.

“Now I can see the signs in place I had to say that Matform has made a cracking job of them,” he commented.

John Kelly added that Matform felt privileged to be involved with such a worthwhile community project which had been funded by such high-calibre sponsorship, and executed by hard work and determination.

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Matform supply product labels & barcodes, self adhesive labels, specialist screenprinting, metal nameplates, metal engravings & large format digital printing for a variety of applications & industries worldwide including healthcare, electronics & marine