By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
One of the most remarkable art exhibitions ever seen in Southport is now open.
The Many / Paper My Wishes is the work of acclaimed international artist Suhail Shaikh who is truly unique in what he creates.
Many people will remember Suhail for the Courage and Devotion display, which featured his replica World War Two Supermarine Spitfire at the centre – made entirely from paper and cardboard.
This time Suhail has created a life-size nose section of a World War Two Avro Lancaster.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
It is in tribute to the courageous young men who flew in Bomber Command during World War II – and who felt largely unrecognised and forgotten after the war had ended.
Over 55,000 Bomber Command crew members died during the conflict.
Their chances of survival as they flew night after night over Nazi occupied Europe were extremely slim.
Mission by grim mission, their friends and comrades reduced in numbers. They still kept flying.
What they achieved was remarkable.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Wing Commander Steve Charkin, Officer Commanding 611 Squadron; Master Aircrew Piers Wakeham, RAF Woodvale; Air Commodore Adam Sansom, Regional Air Office England.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Walking into The Atkinson and seeing Suhail’s Lancaster is breathtaking.
It’s a stunning piece of art that has taken months of diligent research followed by months of designing and making.
The accuracy and level of details is immense. And it’s all made entirely from cardboard and paper.
Incredibly moving is that The Many has become a living, breathing art exhibition.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
People in Southport and beyond, whose relatives served in Lancasters and other Bomber Command aircraft, have delved into their picture frames, their cupboards and their lofts to rediscover old pictures, letters, logbooks, medals, maps, training manuals, newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia.
It has allowed people to reconnect with courageous family members who served during World War Two and to share their stories.
Copies of these fascinating submissions have grown increasingly to become the fabric on the outside of the Lancaster.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Other memorabilia is displayed inside cases in the gallery.
You’ll need a few visits to take in all the stories.
People have also painted scores of red poppies, bearing names of relatives, which flow from the bomb bays of the replica aircraft.
Bomber Command crews did far more than operate on bombing missions.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Cadets from 611 Squadromn at RAF Woodvale. Sergeant Gretka; Flight Sergeant Sandy; Sergeant McClennan; Corporal Hall.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
They took part in operations such as Operation Manna, delivering vital food supplies to families in Holland who were left starving to death through the cruelty of the Nazis.
They took Allied Prisoners Of War who had been rescued from POW camps back home.
Air crews flew high ranking Nazis to face trial.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Richard and Beata Kowalski (Southport Anglo Polish Society); Michal Mazurek (Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester).
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The stories also share what was happening on the Home Front in Southport, where huge efforts were made to fundraise to pay for a Lancaster to fly.
One example is a Southport Visiter newspaper article about the dramatic rescue of a crew of six including Southport man, Sergeant Navigator Lawrence Steels Collins, son of Mr and Mrs H Collins, of Denmark Road, in Churchtown.
Drifting among 7ft waves in the Atlantic Ocean, they were picked up by a Short Sunderland flying boat and returned home.
“He is none the worse”, his relieved mother told the Visiter as her son returned home for just 72 hours leave, “except for an injured thumb which is nothing serious”.
Lawrence and other members of his crew were in a Whitley bomber which made a forced landing on the ocean.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Charlotte Buckingham (Marjeting Manager The Atkinson); Stephen Whittle (Museums Manager The Atkinson); Mr and Mrs Bryden (The Atkinson Development Trust).
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
With waves pounding over the stricken aircraft the crew took to the water in a two-man dinghy and radioed their position.
After being adrift for several hours, they were spotted by a Lockheed Hudson – which dropped food, brandy and cigarettes to them – before they were subsequently picked up by a Short Sunderland flying boat.
Another story told of a brave Southport man who won the Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery in a burning aircraft above Germany.
Sergeant Aubrey Weldon, a wireless operator, used his hands to beat out flames which had broken out in the rear turret of his bomber 16,000ft over Mannheim.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. RAFA Secretary Alan Smith
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The 25-year-old former KGV School pupil, the son of Mr Louis Weldon and the late Mrs Annie Weldon of Lord Street, was a member of 150 Squadron.
At the time of his bravery he had flown 19 operational flights, 16 as a gunner and three as a first wireless operator.
During the raid on Mannheim, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft shellfire.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Suhail Shaikh and RAFA Chairman David McGregor.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The rear turret filled with smoke and flames broke out. Sergeant Weldon rushed to help the rear gunner, who was injured, before tackling the flames with his bare hands, before putting it out with a fire extinguisher which was passed to him.
He returned to his wireless duties and relayed the situation to his captain.
The episode was carried out 16,000ft over enemy territory, in minus 25C temperatures, and without a supply of oxygen.
There are more similarly moving stories on display and well worth reading.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The Atkinson art galleries are free to attend and its location right in the centre of town makes it very accessible for people.
This is an incredible art exhibition that has to be seen before it moves on elsewhere in the country.
Aircrew who served in Bomber Command suffered horrific losses during World War Two.
After the conflict, they were controversially denied a separate campaign medal.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
In protest at this perceived establishment snub to his men, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Bomber Command Arthur Harris refused a peerage in 1946. He was the sole commander-in-chief not to become a peer.
Suhail Shaikh believes his new exhibition dedicated to ‘The Many’ will provide some long-overdue recognition.
He said: “During World War Two, over 55,000 people who served in Bomber Command in the RAF were killed.
“That is more than 50% of the entire Bomber Command force.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“These men were all volunteers, they all felt they had a sense of duty.
“Their courage and determination were immense.
“Despite this, after the end of World War Two, all of a sudden they found themselves airbrushed out, there was a real lack of recognition for what they did.
“The people who were in Bomber Command didn’t want glory. But they all had a dangerous job to do, and they did it with courage and despite huge losses.
Guests enjoyed the launch night of the new The Many / Paper My Wishes exhibition by artist Suhail Shaikh at the Atkinson in Southport.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“After the war, there were no great parades, so special medals for them, not a lot of recognition for what they did.
“The men of Bomber Command were very stoic, they took it quietly.
“Today, they are very deserving of recognition for what they did and for what they went through.”
- The Many / Paper My Wishes by Suhail Shaikh is at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport town centre until Saturday 24th February 2024. For more details please visit: www.theatkinson.co.uk
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