Running For The Few team visits Tangmere museum during 80-mile tribute to Battle of Britain veterans

Author and photographer Jonny Cracknell led a team of runners from Westhampnett to Tangmere’s Military Aviation Museum last Thursday on the penultimate day of their Second World War memorial run.
By James Connaughton
Published 15th Oct 2020, 14:47 BST
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Chris Marsh, Iain Willis, Chris Scott and Mark James joined Jonny as part of the Running For The Few team which was met at the museum by director Dudley Hooley and Deborah Mabbitt, the niece of Battle of Britain pilot Archie McInnes who died last year aged 100.

Mr Hooley presented the team with copies of the Tangmere and the Battle of Britain booklet.

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Their five-day, 80-mile run began at the headquarters of the Aircraft Restoration Company in Duxford last Monday and took in 15 sites of a special significance to the Battle of Britain, many of them airfields from which The Few flew against the Luftwaffe.

The Running For The Few team - Chris Marsh, Iain Willis, Jonny Cracknell, Chris Scott and Mark James - at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082The Running For The Few team - Chris Marsh, Iain Willis, Jonny Cracknell, Chris Scott and Mark James - at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082
The Running For The Few team - Chris Marsh, Iain Willis, Jonny Cracknell, Chris Scott and Mark James - at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082

The other sites they visited were Fowlmere, Debden, North Weald, Hornchurch, Biggin Hill, Kenley, Croydon, Uxbridge, the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt, Bentley Priory, Manston and Hawkinge, before they reached their finishing point at the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne on Friday.

The Running For The Few team was hoping to raise at least £3,000 in tribute to the nearly 3,000 RAF aircrew who served during the Battle of Britain, between July 10 and October 31, 1940, but have now raised more than £7,000.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/battleofbritain80

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Tangmere Military Aviation Museum director Dudley Hooley presents Jonny Cracknell with copies of the Tangmere and the Battle of Britain booklet. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082Tangmere Military Aviation Museum director Dudley Hooley presents Jonny Cracknell with copies of the Tangmere and the Battle of Britain booklet. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum director Dudley Hooley presents Jonny Cracknell with copies of the Tangmere and the Battle of Britain booklet. Picture: Steve Robards SR2010082

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