Chris Laycock has, over the years, raised money for numerous military linked charities.  His new challenge for 2023 is trundling on behalf of Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial, the charity that owns and operates International Bomber Command Centre, in Lincoln.

Chris says:

“I have to use an electric scooter to complete the mileage for this challenge accompanied by my wife, Jo.

We have identified 54 major sites in the UK which were either airfields or memorials for Bomber Command during World War Two and the distance from Google Maps is 1,401 miles.  We are also incorporating the Derwent Reservoir Dam and the Dambusters Memorial in Woodhall Spa as 2023 is the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise. The raid by 617 Squadron on the 3 dams in the heart of Germany. The last of the aircrew of the dams raid has recently passed. We must keep their memories alive.

Our aim is to raise £1000 or more for the IBCC.

My father flew bombers in the RAF, both Victors and Vulcans during the Cold War period and was the Station Commander of RAF Waddington during the Vulcan Black Buck raids on Port Stanley during the Falklands Conflict and I am affiliated to 44 Rhodesia Squadron, as Dad flew with this and other squadrons. 44 Squadron motto is Fulmina regis iusta “The Kings Thunderbolts are righteous”

My Grandfather also flew with 39 squadron and others and my great grandfather was also in the RAF.

58,761 young men and women, most volunteers, lost their lives flying with Bomber Command during World War Two and The IBCC is helping to keep the memory of these brave men and women alive.

We will trundle the equivalent distance on our local paths and roads adding up the mileage as we go.  Again, my wife Jo or affectionately known as Mrs L and our hounds Molly, Gracie and Mabel will also be there. I will post updates and photos as we go.

 

This is the link to our fund-raising page on Just Giving.

Update March 2023

Here is an update of our 2023 challenge for The International Bomber Command Centre.  

The plan is to visit 54 sites that Bomber Command used during World War 2 including the Derwent Reservoir and Dam finishing by December 31st. This will be by travelling the distance on our local routes and paths.   The total mileage is 1,401 miles and we have completed 372 miles. Our start point was Lossiemouth in Scotland and of the 54 legs we our now on Leg 7 RAF Marston Moor to RAF Driffield in Yorkshire a Leg of 45 miles.  

2023 virtual tour for International Bomber Command Centre 

Lossiemouth to Kinloss.  10m

Kinloss to Middleton St George 327

Middleton St George to Leeming 35

Leeming to Topcliffe 11

Topcliffe to Linton on Ouse 17

Linton on Ouse to Marston Moor 10

Marston Moor to Driffield 45

Driffield to Pocklington 15

Pocklington to Holme 12

Holme to Elsham  31

Elsham to Lindholme 24

Lindholme to Finningley 11

Finningley to Derwent 38

Derwent to Hixon 58

Hixon to Lichfield 17

Lichfield to Wellesbourne 46

Wellesbourne to Honeybourne 17

Honeybourne to Moreton in Marsh  11

Moreton in Marsh to Abingdon 35

Abingdon to RAF Westcott 32

Westcott to Wing 13

Wing to Upper Heyford 27

Upper Heyford to Silverstone 19

Silverstone to Chipping Warden 15

Chipping Warden to  Bruntingthorpe 34

Bruntingthorpe to Husbands Bosworth  9

Husbands Bosworth to Market Harborough 7

Market Harborough to Desborough 10

Desborough to North Luffenham 20

North Luffenham to Stradishall 73

Stradishall to Waterbeach 22

Waterbeach to Mildenhall 24

Mildenhall to Swannington 50

Swannington to Oulton 5

Oulton to Foulsham 8

Foulsham to Little Snoring 14

Little Snoring to North Creake 7

North Creake to Bottesford 91

Bottesford to Syerston 10

Syerston to Ossington 16

Ossington to Swinderby 16

Swinderby to Waddington 10

Waddington to Scampton 12

Scampton to Binbrooke 25

Binbrooke to ludford Magna 7

Ludford Magna to East kirkby 23

East Kirkby to Coningsby 13

Coningsby to Dambuster Memorial 5

Dambuster Memorial to Bardney 10

Bardney to IBCC 12

1,401 miles 3.8 miles per day.