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.
