Following the visit of the (then) Station Commander of RAF Halton, Group Captain Steve Chisnall, to the launch of Buckinghamshire County Celebration Ale (Millennium Ale) at the Brewery in 1999, I was surprised and delighted to receive an invitation to the Battle of Britain Reception the next year.

As a brewer I felt that it was somewhat inadequate to attend this illustrious occasion without a token of refreshment of an appropriate calibre. We selected Three Hundreds Old Ale, a beer with real presence on the palate, which in our literature elsewhere, is described as heavy cruiser material! Taking the liberty of adapting the photograph from the invitation we created a label, applied it to the bottle, and duly presented it to the new Station Commander, Group Captain Steve Lilley.

This went down well, as the saying goes, and consideration was then given to developing the principle for local sales, with a donation being made per bottle to RAF Halton charities.

Following the successful launch of Battle of Britain Ale at the Officers’ Mess in late 2001, the prospect of whether more could be made of it (so to speak) continued to crop up at subsequent Receptions. In particular, whether there was a way of commemorating the pilots themselves as the focal point and prime objective.

It occurred to me that a painting, based on the superb picture on the bottle label but signed by a number of pilots would be ideal. Donations from sales of numbered prints could be made to RAF Halton charities but I dismissed the prospect as being beyond the capability of the Brewery alone. The simpler alternative was an enlarged copy of the label.

I mentioned this in passing to Group Captain Dusty Amroliwala, who had replaced Steve Lilley as Station Commander, during an informal visit to the Brewery. With an immediate, authoritative wave of the arm he dismissed the print out of hand. “We’ll have a painting,” he announced. (I couldn’t believe my ears). He continued “I think I know just the man. He keeps his aircraft in my hanger. I don’t think there will be a problem there.” And so after an approach from the Officers’ Mess, Michael Turner found himself contemplating a contribution of his unique talents. The choice was inspired, however. In addition to living locally, Michael is a founder member and currently President of the Guild of Aviation Artists. There couldn’t be anybody else more appropriate.

An initial meeting took place at the Brewery at Squadron Leader Lee Cobley’s (Officers’ Mess Bar Member) suggestion to produce a framework, and arrangements started in September 2002. Local pilots were identified by the Officers’ Mess and all four accepted immediately. The initial phase of signings took place in the summer 2003, with Flight Lieutenant Alistair Green having to visit Sir Christopher and Sir Archie in Henley due to difficulties in travel, and then on to RAF Innsworth to include Dusty.

The second phase of signings took place memorably at the Brewery in August 2003 together with Michael Turner. Again Alistair Green gamely provided transport for John Young and Richard Jones to and from the Brewery from Oxfordshire (whilst on leave at home in Cheshire!). A front-page spread in the Bucks Herald gave excellent added impetus and prompted strong interest and the first print has already been sold (unseen) to the wife of a Halton officer who knows nothing about it yet!

The support and assistance provided by both RAF Halton and Michael Turner has been absolutely unstinting and unlimited. The Brewery is honoured and privileged to have had such splendid co-operation extended to it. We hope that the picture will not only provide pleasure and enjoyment in the present, but encouragement and fortitude for the challenges of the years ahead.

We have signed limited edition prints of this painting. Please contact us for more details