Terry Smith Straight Talking

New Zealand New Year Honours List

In the New Zealand New Year Honours List HM The Queen has graciously appointed me a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit for services to New Zealand-United Kingdom relations.

I was honoured to receive this award which acknowledges the success of the Campaign I was proud to lead to commemorate New Zealander Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, and I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign.

I hope this award like the Campaign reminds people of just the sort of efforts that some people put in to defend the freedoms, rights and privileges that we enjoy today.

Happy Battle of Britain Day

The weather in London today is as it was on that day in 1940 when the greatest aerial battle in history reached its climax.
 
Last night I had the pleasure to attend a banquet at the RAF Museum to honour the Polish, Czech and Slovak pilots who flew as part of the RAF during the Battle.
 
The Poles were the second largest group of pilots in the RAF during the Battle after the Brits. The highest scoring ace in the battle in the RAF was a Czech Sgt. Josef Frantisek flying with 303 Polish Squadron.
 
This short clip from the movie Battle of Britain is an essentially accurate portrayal of the way the Polish squadron entered the Battle, by disobeying orders:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1pplBZu0oU
 
As General Patton said in another context: 'It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.'
 
Thanks to them, enjoy your day.

Condolences on the Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand

In my capacity as Chairman of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign I sent a letter of condolence to the people of Christchuch, New Zealand in the wake of the tragedy they have suffered as a result of the earthquake that hit yesterday. Many readers of my blog have been supporters of the campaign so I wanted to share my letter to His Excellency Mr Derek Leask, the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London:

Your Excellency,

In keeping with my close association with that great New Zealander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, it is with great sadness that I write to you to express my own condolences and those of my colleagues at this most difficult and dark time for New Zealand.

The large casualty list and the extensive damage suffered by Christchurch and its people have profoundly shocked everyone here in the United Kingdom.

Earthquakes are often dramatic events, but to have one occur in the midst of a busy city in the middle of the day is doubly catastrophic.  To me one of the most dramatic pictures is of that symbol of faith and continuity, the 130 year old cathedral, minus its spire.

Many people here will have friends and relatives in New Zealand, which will make the tragedy even more poignant.  Yet in their hearts they know that the people of Christchurch and the authorities there will shoulder their tragic losses and remake and rebuild their city in the true manner of New Zealanders in adversity.

In that vein may I send my utmost support to the rescue teams, the fire fighters, the medical services, and indeed everyone else as they cope with the aftermath and the aftershocks.  I am glad to read too that a 62 man search and rescue team from this country is already on its way out there to assist where they can.

Your Excellency, I am once again deeply shocked and touched by another environmental tragedy in New Zealand.  It has been made worse by the fact that there was an earlier quake last September.  I would therefore be grateful if you would convey my condolences and heartfelt thoughts to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Mayor of Christchurch and the people of that city.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Smith
Chairman, the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign