PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

Was passing the Montrose Air Museum this afternoon so decided to call in. There were lots of visitors including some Russians and Norwegians. There is a Russian Exhibition on as a tribute to the Russian airmen who were trained at RAF Errol during WW2. It was interesting to talk with some visitors who had had grandfathers or fathers who had trained in Scotland at that time. What took my attention was this replica of a stained glass window originally commissioned by Rolls Royce after WW2 to honour the pilots and their factory workforce. The original, "The Few", is of antique mouth-blown glass designed by stained glass artist Hugh Easton, and was unveiled at the Rolls-Royce Derby Factory in 1949. A replica is now in the Learning and Career Development Centre in Derby – the original has been removed to a safe store.  My extra is of a demonstration of raising the flag at the Air Museum. It did amuse me because they were having difficulty getting it up. I left before they succeeded!  It was symbolic though of the RAF motto which is roughly translated to 'Through struggles to the stars'.  I prefer the version 'Sky is the limit'  -  although that's not precise.  Anyway mine would be 'The sky is not he limit".