Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway are being dressed up for today’s VE Day anniversary.
Neighbours are planning outdoor lunches to replace planned street parties because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
But they will not be able to compete with the extraordinary Second World War tribute decoration which sits on a Moffat front lawn.
That is because retired GP Hamish MacLeod has built a full-sized replica of the iconic Second World War fighter plane the Spitfire, which he is going to leave to the town.
A former pilot officer with a passion for Spitfires, the 82-year-old has used his grounded pride and joy to raise thousands of pounds for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund through donations from visitors who have come to see it.
He said he is delighted that the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing are not going to stop residents in Dumfries and Galloway from marking today’s anniversary and paying tribute to those who gave their lives in WWII.
He said: “It is extremely important that such anniversaries are marked throughout the nation and the Commonwealth as so many gave their lives or suffered lifelong disability in saving the world from Nazi tyranny.
“I feel that it is essential that Dumfries and Galloway should be 100 per cent involved in any nationwide recognition of VE day.
“Covid-19 has, as with everything, put severe restrictions on any crowd-based celebratory functions so it is up to individuals to do their thing and I hope they do.”
He helps organise the annual service held in Moffat’s Station Park each year to commemorate the town’s famous son Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding, who was responsible for anticipating and preparing for The Battle of Britain.
Hamish said: “My Spitfire represents the immeasurable contribution that Lord Dowding made when he and AVM Park guided Fighter Command to victory in the Battle of Britain.
“Afterwards Churchhill acknowledged Dowding as the ‘architect of deliverance’. Had that not been so, there would have been no VE Day.”
He intends to eventually give his Spitfire to the people of Moffat: “The chief executive of the Royal Air Force Association has kindly agreed to my leaving the Spitfire to the people of Moffat and it will be sited at the front of their Dowding House in Well Street on my demise.
“Because of the connection with Dowding there should be a Spitfire in Moffat. This is my way of saying thank you to the people of Moffat for giving me such fabulous support during my career.”
Dr MacLeod, who fulfilled his dream of getting behind the controls of a real Spitfire 26 years ago when he was in Florida taking a refresher course on night flying, said he vividly remembers taking part in the actual VE celebrations in London’s Elmgate Gardens as a boy in 1945.
“I certainly will be watching Her Majesty and toasting her and the VE Day itself, with strong thoughts of all the sacrifices that were made in achieving it.”
