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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Dorset => Topic started by: Del 80 on Wednesday 11 January 17 16:47 GMT (UK)
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On 31st May 1960 a Jet Provost from RAF Cranwell, in Lincolnshire, crashed into a field at Welby, Lincs.....the pilot, 21 years old Peter Tomes, from Weymouth, Dorset, was killed, it has always been my belief that he was buried at Welby churchyard, not far from the crash site.....recently, at the churchyard on other business I tried to find his grave to no avail, the local churchwarden had no knowledge of it either, although time was short........does this mean anything to anyone ?......Regards Del.
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There is a stained glass memorial at St. George, Fordington, Dorset; 1960,
Notes: Flight Cadet RAF, grave reference 318. Peter Robin Tomes.
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Thank you.....so he WASN'T buried at Welby, all these years I thought that he was, I can remember his 'plane going over our house, it was making a strange sound, and pouring black smoke.....it hit the ground about half a mile away.......Del.
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The type of aircraft involved in the incident was a propeller driven Percival Provost T1 which is not the same as a Jet Provost.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=145207
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Thank you for that, I notice that he was flying from RAF Barkston Heath, which was, and still is I think , a satellite station of RAF Cranwell......Del.
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Nanny jan, Can I ask where you found the reference to the stained glass memorial in memory of Peter Tomes ?......I am trying to obtain an image of it, any help appreciated.......Del.
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It was a transcription done by the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society; it might be useful to contact them to ask if they have more details.
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Found this just by searching on his full name:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sheepdog_rex/5506741850
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That is brilliant, thank you so much.....how I missed that I don't know......Del.
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If you contact St. George's they should be able to tell you if he is buried there.
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Thank you....so it is not definite that he is actually buried there ?.......I shall contact them.
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Always good to double check! :)
The S&DFHS transcription is a bit vague.
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I see that Peter Robin Tomes went to The Thomas Hardye school at Dorchester.....I wonder if there are any school photographs with him on, I have found one from 1958, of a school cricket team, but he is not on it.....anyone have any ideas ?.......Del.
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Possibly this school:
http://www.thomas-hardye.dorset.sch.uk/
Might be worth contacting them; a bit of a long shot but an account of his death/funeral might have appeared in a school magazine.
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Thank You.....I am trying to find out all I can about this chap.....here's why.....Arthur Ayto was my father......
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This may be of interest:
http://www.bcar.org.uk/1960s-incident-logs
http://www.jetprovostheaven.com/jpsqns/#caw
Carol
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Thank you , I have recently discovered that the 'plane that crashed, killing Peter Tomes, was a Percival Provost T1.....I always thought it was a jet powered 'plane, but that particular model was propeller driven.......Del
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Photos here of Hardye's CCF but I can't find your man as I think they are too early:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/grahamallen/Old%20Hardyeans/CCF/
myweb.tiscali.co.uk/grahamallen/Old%20Hardyeans/CCF/
Seated or kneeling: Cpl Robin 'Reg' Graham, Peter Burke? (in blazer) ... 22 - Royal Air Force section (foreground), fronted by W/O Robin Tomes. The Corps of .
Carol
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Carol, That is excellent, thank you....picture 19 has a P.R.Tomes taken during a parade.....I wonder ?.....unfortunately I can't view picture 22.....Del.
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What a find! Well done Carol. :)
I would say that's your man.
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Oh I do hope so Jan :D
Carol
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Carol, For some reason I can't view some of the pictures.....including No. 22....any ideas ?
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I'm not sure...I can see them all ???
Carol
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I can see that one, it is picture No. 19.......it is picture No. 22 that I can't see.
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Oh yes...I see what you mean...there is an email address so you can make contact and make some enquiries..
Carol
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Just an update, for anyone interested, have contacted the owner of the website, and he has sent a new link....http://oldhardyeans.webs.com/ there are lots of pictures of Peter Robin Tomes on there, he seems to have used the name Robin Tomes.....many thanks to those that helped......Del.
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Thanks for the update...great result :D
Carol
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Great result, thanks for the update.