In 2024 I was introduced to Ray Parke – an RAF Bomber Command veteran who flew Lancasters with No.218 Sqn during 1944/45. Ray was in a care home local to me in Norfolk, and was approaching his 99th Birthday in April. I had been made aware a local student at the Norwich UEA was filming a short-documentary on Ray’s life and service career – and which had hoped to conclude by getting Ray get back on a running Lancaster Bomber to have a last taxi-ride at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre on NX611 ‘Just Jane’. Sadly the campaign was well short of the required funding (and time) to make it happen – so I decided I wanted to help.
Having spent some time with Ray, hearing his incredible story of flying 40 Operations as a Flight Enigneer over enemy occupied Europe aged just 19 – it also transpired we had a mutual connection as he had worked for my current employer post-war for over 40 years!
Some of Ray’s story has also been captured in the excellent book ‘The Eighth Passenger’, which was written by his bomb-aimer and good friend Miles Tripp – who reunited his crew after the war to bring together their collective recollections. I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it!
With only a couple of months required to raise the necessary funds I auctioned some of my personal collection of aviation prints and books, along with donating the entire proceeds of some recent book sales. I then decided, having plotted a route, that it was about a marathon distance to run between Ray’s old RAF Stations of Methwold and Chedburgh. Having contacted the respective landowners (Methwold now private farmland) they kindly gave me permission to run and the event became ‘Run for Ray’. The date was set for the 21st April 2024 where I hoped to finish in time to attend Ray’s 99th Birthday party being held later that day – and deliver him the news that we’d raised the remaining funds for his Lancaster ride to go ahead in May.
Thankfully I finished the 29-mile route on time and made it across to Hardwick Airfield Museum where on completion I had successfully raised the £5,000 required and gave Ray the proud birthday news that he would once again climb aboard a Lancaster Bomber. This was all thanks to many generous people and donations which I’m hugely grateful for. It was a very special day – only topped by the Lancaster ride itself on the 15th May 2024 where it was hugely emotional seeing Ray climb aboard for a last ride. His 41st and final Op complete!
Sadly Ray passed away on 12th January 2025 – just a couple of months shy of turning 100 where celebratory plans were afoot. I sincerely hope the last Lancaster ride evoked some happy and fond memories for him to take with him back up to the Squadron Bar. Thankyou Ray!
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