ONE of the most memorable occasions during my time as editor of The Northern Echo was the unveiling of a magnificent statue in memory of wartime hero Andrew Mynarski.

Mynarski was a Canadian airman who was based at the bomber base which is now Durham Tees Valley Airport. He sacrificed his life to save his friend Pat Brophy when their Lancaster bomber was shot down during the Second World War.

A campaign by The Northern Echo raised £70,000, with a huge helping hand from the National Lottery Fund, to erect a lifesize bronze statue of Mynarski outside St George Hotel, overlooking the airport. A Lancaster bomber performed a fly-past as the memorial was unveiled in 2005.

David Shuttleworth, whose funeral was held last week after he passed away aged 90, was one of those who supported the campaign so lovingly and it was always a pleasure to meet him.

Trained during the war as a Lancaster navigator, David’s passion for aviation history knew no bounds.

He was a founder member of the Cleveland and District Branch of the Aircrew Association and held almost every branch office until the association disbanded in 2011.

David was one of several wartime veteran aircrew members present at the opening of the Middleton St George Memorial Room in the St George Hotel last month and several items from his uniform, as well as his RAF pay book, are on display.

He had a passion for aviation memorabilia and had a huge collection of aircraft books and models. For many years, he attended local squadron reunions and memorial dedications with his late wife Jean in their beloved vintage MG car. After being accepted for aircrew training, he was shipped out to Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and gained his brevet at Portage la Prairie in Manitoba.

An architect by profession and a fine artist, he was in private practice in Stockton before working for Cleveland County Council. He is survived by his children Anne, John and Ian.

David Thompson, of Eaglescliffe, contacted me to ask if space could be found in this column to pay tribute to his friend, and I’m more than happy to do so.

“His wife Jean, who had been unwell for some time, passed away earlier this year but regardless of this and his own failing health, he always had a twinkle in his eye. He was a truly lovely man who was held in high esteem,” said David.

David’s letter to me signed off with the words: “Old aircrew never die, they merely pass on and fly in a bluer sky.”

David Shuttleworth, 1925-2016, we salute you. Rest in peace.

WE all know high streets are facing new challenges due to competition posed by the internet, but well done to Stockton for reaching the final three in the “Rising Star” category of the annual Great British High Street competition.

Stockton has done a brilliant job by making the town centre the focus of a vibrant events strategy and it’s paying off.

I love to see the North-East do well so it would be great to see Stockton win the award outright. To be crowned as champion, Stockton needs to demonstrate public support. Supporters have until Friday (November 18) to register a vote via www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk. It’s easy and it’s free and it would be a huge boost to the town to be named the winner on December 12.

STEVE Cochrane, owner of Psyche in Middlesbrough, opened his first fashion store 30 years ago and has shone as an award-winning, respected entrepreneur.

However, I can’t agree with comments he made last week while welcoming the arrival of high-end fashion label Flannels into the former BHS site in Middlesbrough.

Steve’s message was that Middlesbrough was on the up but he added “there’s probably no need for Stockton or Redcar town centres any more”.

Why would someone who has worked so hard to build a retail business stick the knife into others trying to do the same?

ON the subject of fashion, I can’t let last week pass without a thank you to The Northern Echo’s stylish chief sports writer Scott Wilson.

We were preparing a fashion piece for the new Country Life section of The Northern Echo’s website and we needed someone to model the men’s range at Sam Turner and Sons in Northallerton.

“Who can we use as a male model?” went up the cry.

Various candidates were suggested but we ended up plumping for Scott. He wasn’t our first choice but beggars can’t be choosers. Just on the right side of middle age, brought up on a farm, boyish good looks and, most importantly, not the slightest bit shy.

He’s had some fearsome stick from his colleagues since the photo-shoot but, in my book, he’s just a really good sport – in more ways than one.

  • The results of the photo-shoot can be seen at www.northernecho.co.uk/ features/countrylife

The Northern Echo:

AS I watched the presidential election unfold last week, I kept trying to convince myself that America would never vote for Donald Trump in a million years.

And then I remembered that the people of Hartlepool elected a man in a monkey suit as their mayor. No, honestly, they did, so why should we be surprised by anything?

As it turned out, H’angus the monkey, alias Stuart Drummond, did a decent job. Will Trump make a monkey out of his critics in four years’ time? We should all hope so.