MOFFAT’S Spitfire is coming into land at Dowding House this summer.
The life size replica of a PT 462 Spitfire, which currently sits in the garden of Dr Hamish MacLeod, has been given the go-ahead to be moved to the grounds of Dowding House, as a tribute to Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, who was born in Moffat and served as a commander during the Battle of Britain.
The team behind the project has been working with neighbours and the Royal Air Force Association on the project since 2022. They have now confirmed that work on moving the replica and siting the bust is due to start in June and take about six weeks, with an unveiling ceremony likely to take place at the end of the summer.
Project chairman Alastair Kerr commented: “We are incredibly grateful to Hamish, who has been pivotal in helping us achieve this respectful tribute to Lord Dowding by the men he called his “fighter boys”, and to the Royal Air Force Association, which now owns Dowding House.
“It’s taken a while to sort out all the details, but the replica is currently being renovated by experts from the Dumfries and Galloway Flight Museum and will then be moved to its new home.”
