Bomber County Gateway Trust

Guy Norton, Gusto Site Manager and Joseph Wright, Gusto Customer Service Manager, presented their £500 donations to Bomber County Gateway Trust. Charlie White, Trustee and Landowner, received the £1,000 cheque from the Gusto Community Fund on behalf of the Trust. Guy and Joseph have re-donated to Bomber County Gateway Trust in 2021.

The Bomber County Gateway Trust has been formed with the object of designing, procuring, constructing and installing an iconic landmark art installation on the county border of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The installation will represent an Avro Lancaster Bomber heading ‘home’ to RAF Swinderby, 3km away. This illusion will be achieved by elevating the plane on a structural stand, so it appears to be flying above the horizon against the sky.

The Lancaster will stand proud on its perfect vantage point at the full life size of 26m long with a 31m wingspan. Elevated on its support structure the installation will be taller than the Angel of the North standing on her podium at 20m above ground level.

The project is under construction. £90,000 is needed to complete purchases of materials, having raised in excess of £150,000 in donations and another £350,000 in goodwill and services.

Gusto Site Manager, Guy, has nominated the project in commemoration of his father’s service as a pilot in the Bomber Command.

Wilf Norton was initially in the 106 and then 617 Squadron at The Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa.

Guy said: “The building of a Lancaster bomber memorial on the Lincolnshire /Nottinghamshire border, donating because my father served in bomber command.”

Joseph Wright says “I’m looking forward to seeing the fabricated plane sitting on it’s Stand in commemoration of the RAF in WW2.”