Statue honours 'genius' WW2 engineering pioneer

Caroline Flippants and Martin Robins stand alongside the statue of Sir George Dowty

A bronze statue of the West Country engineering pioneer Sir George Dowty has been unveiled.

In the 1930s, the engineer founded Cheltenham-based Dowty Aviation, that went on to manufacture parts for military aircraft flown during World War Two, and even Concorde.

At one time the company employed 15,000 people across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

"We hope this is an adequate reflection of the genius he was," said Martin Robins, chairman of the Sir George Dowty memorial committee.

The life-size statue commemorates Sir George's contribution to aviation engineering

The life-size bronze statue of Sir George commemorates his contribution to aviation engineering and features him standing with one hand resting on the wheel of a Lancaster bomber.

Sir George designed the undercarriage of the aircraft, which was used as the RAF's principal heavy bomber during the latter stages of World War Two.

The statue will soon be given a permanent home at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

Mr Robins was an employee at the Dowty group for 10 years from the early 1970s.

"This was not built to cost, it was built to come out perfect," Mr Robins said.

"It's a unique piece of workmanship. It's a good reflection of both the man and the contribution he made to the country.

"He designed the undercarriage for the heaviest bomber the country had during the Second World War.

"No aircraft Dowty supplied was ever grounded for lack of parts. I think that's unique."

Caroline Flippants, who is also on the memorial committee, used to be Sir George's secretary.

"He was very hardworking, he was a quiet man," she said. "He was always in the office.

"I've never seen anything like this statue, and the detail is amazing."