Blue plaque for fighter pilot fails to impress

Hull Council’s Civic Committee met to discuss a request for a memorial to honour city-born Spitfire pilot Air Commodore Ronald Berry CBE DSO DFC and Bar, one of only 14 Battle of Britain pilots chosen to lead the cortege at the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill.

Councillors were concerned that giving Air Commodore Berry a memorial could open the floodgates to similar requests.

They referred the possibility of a plaque at his birthplace to the relevant area committee – but said it would up to them to decide whether to take it further.

Coun Colin Inglis said: “There are probably hundreds of people who had outstanding war records. I am not decrying this man’s record.

“It is outstanding but we have to be very careful with this... If we move the line at all away from collective commemoration there will be no end to this I suspect.”

The pilot, who was born in Kelvin Street and worked in the treasurer’s department at Hull Corporation until the outbreak of War, also saw action in France and North Africa, was credited with 22 kills, a further 11 shared, 11 probable, and 24 enemy aircraft damaged or destroyed.

He was made a CBE in 1965 and died in 2000, aged 83.

The author of a book about him, Don Chester, said: “My question is what if there were more requests? Why shouldn’t they be considered and why shouldn’t people be recognised?

“If statues can be erected to footballers and roads like Clive Sullivan Way can be named after a rugby player, why shouldn’t military heroes be given equal treatment?”

A report suggested there were memorials to the city’s four VC winners, but Mr Chester said he was only aware of the one to John “Jack” Harrison VC MC in the city’s Guildhall. He said: “I am not awfully impressed but at least they haven’t thrown it out altogether.”