Royal Air Force News Friday, May 20, 2022 P24
Feature
By Tracey Allen
Legacy of ATA Girl Molly Rose secured
Portrait now hangs on wall of RAF Club A PORTRAIT of World War II aviatrix Molly Rose has been unveiled at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, London.
Molly was a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary – one of the famous ATA girls – civilian pilots who ferried thousands of military
Georgia wins pilot scholarship MOLLY ROSE died in 2016, aged 95. The Attagirls Molly Rose Pilot Scholarship, set up by Paul and Andrew in 2021, has been awarded to Georgia Pescod, 18, from Cambridge. Forty-two applications were received from young women aged between 17-24 and Georgia was selected from five finalists. Valued at £15,000 the scholarship was created by Aetheris Films and funded by Marshall of Cambridge (founded by Molly’s father) in association with
the British Women Pilots’ Association. It is the only one of its kind in the UK which entirely funds all elements of attaining a Private Pilot’s Licence, said Paul. Georgia, who joined the Air Training Corps aged 12 and is a member of 104 (City of Cambridge) ATC, will receive full pilot training at the Cambridge Aero Club over the summer with all costs covered. She said: “My dream is about to come true.” GEORGIA: Flying lessons
aircraft around the UK in support of RAF operations. The painting, by Jeremy Houghton, was presented to the Club by Paul Olavesen-Stabb and retired Sqn Ldr Andrew Rawcliffe, who both commissioned it. Paul wrote the novel Attagirls, that dramatises Molly’s story – one of the youngest female pilots of the ATA. With Sqn Ldr Rawcliffe he adapted the novel as a screenplay. Paul said: “I first heard about the ATA around three years ago after which Andrew and I decided that their incredible ‘untold story’, in particular that of the 150 female pilots, deserved to be told to a wider audience in a feature film and a novel. “The RAF Club’s extensive library and incredible art collection provided a wonderful source of information and inspiration, and
IMMORTALISED: Painting of Molly Rose (left) based on photograph inset above
meeting a number of Club members helped to bring the story alive. The RAF Club’s raison d’être is synonymous with the story of Molly Rose and the ATA – love of country and courage under pressure.” He added: “It is our honour to present to the RAF Club a token of
gratitude; a painting of Molly Rose created by one of most wonderful British artists we know. The image of Molly conjures up the very spirit of freedom which was the code of the ATA, and is apparent throughout the Club itself.” Paul and Andrew’s company Aetheris Films is seeking coproduction partners for the film.
Obituary Frank Rogers
One of the last of the Bomber Boys
WEATERTON’S WONDERS: Crew with Frank Rogers second from right
ONE OF the last of the ‘Bomber Boys’ has died aged 100, shortly before his 101st birthday. Frank Rogers passed away 15 hours after Stella, his wife of 71 years, died. Frank was born in March, 1921 and brought up in Leytonstone, East London. He left school at 14 to join his father in the Post Office as a boy messenger delivering telegrams within the City of London. His daughter Helen Dowsett said: “He said that the best deliveries were to The Tower of London, as you had to be escorted by a Beefeater.” Frank volunteered for the RAF in 1940 and trained as a navigator with his training taking place mostly in Leconfield. With 640 Squadron he flew wartime missions in the Lancaster and the Halifax. Helen said: “At the end of the war WEDDING: Frank and Stella wed in March 1951 he was involved in flying British POWs home and by the end of Berlin and enjoying a cooked breakfast the operation a total of 354,000 before or after sorties. ex-prisoners were returned “However, on reading 640 Squadron home by the RAF. Wartime Bombing Operations, the “Like most World War II battle for Berlin was a bleak time veterans, he spoke little of his time for bomber crews, and 640 Sqn in the RAF, except for stories were in the thick of it.” of his pilot J Weaterton saying She added: “He was very ‘good luck chaps’ to his crew honoured to be invited to of ‘Weaterton’s Wonders’, SERVICE: Frank flying upside down over take part in the unveiling by
The Queen of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park in June 2012. “After the war ended Frank rejoined the Post Office and worked in the building next to United Dairies, the deli that Stella ran. “The boys caused havoc when calling in for their lunch by putting elastic bands under the grill.” Frank and Stella got married in March 1951 and Helen was born in 1956. Frank gained promotion and moved to Colchester in 1958. He stayed in the Civil Service until he retired almost 35 years ago. Helen said she found a letter Frank had written to Stella in December 1949 saying how he loved her very much and so long as they were together he was quite content. Stella and Frank were parents to Helen and in-laws to Chris, aunt and uncle to Sandra, Hazel and the late Jacqueline, great aunt and uncle to James, Neil, Rob, Liz, Emma and Matt, great-great aunt and uncle to Gemma, Steven, Maisie, Charlie, George, Jack, Henry, Harry and Sophie and great-great-great aunt and uncle to Charlotte. Helen said: “Stella and Frank were a lovely couple who enjoyed their long, happy lives to the fullest, cherished their family and friends and were loved and respected by everyone who knew them. They are much missed by their family.”