Page 28 • The HERALD • 14th May 2026 v BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS TO YOU SINCE 1994 v Luxury Chauffeured Car Hire for Special Occasions Smart, responsible and fully qualified driver available for: Weddings, Functions, Trips Out, Proms etc 07359 909981 for bookings or more information Wet clean or Dry clean • Carpets • Rugs • Upholstery • Cushions • Mattresses • Caravans & Motor Homes Contact Chris for a free estimate and advice. We have full liability insurance 023 8104 0185 07770 792361 clean-u-up@hotmail.com We provide one of the best professional Carpet & Fabric cleaning Systems All aspects of Plastering & General Decorating Covered Free Quotations Fully Insured Mobile 07941 255335 Phone: 023 8089 8324 parkesij@yahoo.co.uk www.ijs4plastering.co.uk A Poignant Journey 67 Years In The Making by Marc Heighway Marc is available as a guest speaker to deliver local history talks. Find out more at: nfhwa.org/speakers Last October, I wrote about a quiet and nondescript pond hidden deep within the New Forest. It’s a spot that, at rst glance, gives nothing away. Yet the pond is a reminder of a violent moment in 1959, when a prototype jet aircra crashed into the woods, leaving a deep crater and killing both men on board. One of those men was William Lewis Alford, a highly experienced American test pilot working with NASA. In April, that story came full circle in a way I had not expected. I was contacted by a local museum and members of Alford’s family, who were travelling from the United States to England. For 67 years, the crash location had remained an abstract place to them, but now, for the rst time, they wanted to see it for themselves, so we arranged to meet in a New Forest car park. Joining me was my friend Richard Reeves, and together we met two of Alford’s daughters and other members of their family. It was a peaceful day, so at odds with what had happened in 1959. ere was something poignant about walking with this American family towards a place that holds such personal signi cance for them, yet for most people who pass it, remains entirely unremarkable. Hidden within the woodland is the pond. ere is no memorial here and no plaque or marker to explain what happened. Once we had led them to the spot, Richard and I, along with a representative from the Boscombe Down Aviation Museum, stepped away to give the family time to grieve and re ect. A er so many decades, they were nally able to stand at the place where their father’s life had ended. It was, as you might expect, an emotional morning - and a privilege to have been able to help them. If you wish to nd out more about the circumstances of the 1959 crash, search Google for “Busketts Lawn Jet Crash” and you will nd an article I wrote some years ago on the n wa.org website. The Alford Family at the crash site WATERSIDE VETERANS COFFEE CLUB The Waterside Veterans Coffee Club is held on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10am at Fawley Royal British Legion, Exbury Road, Black eld, SO45 1XD, with their next meeting scheduled for Saturday 16th May. All veterans, serving personnel, their families and dependents are invited to attend and enjoy the usually good humour, refreshments and occasional visiting guests. If you would like further information on this great venture please do get in touch by calling Lucy on: 07979 673343 or emailing: wvcc@btinternet.com
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