Glw Apt 2020 June

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June was less than a week old when a grim milestone was reached. According to official figures the UK death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic surpassed 40,000, of which almost 10,000 were care home residents. This overall total meant that at that time Great Britain had the second highest number of deaths in the world after the USA which recorded 108,000 deaths. These figures, despite best intentions, are likely to be inaccurate, and could be even higher. Many experts still suspect that the true scale of the outbreak in countries such as China, the source of the pathogen, North Korea and even Russia, has been suppressed by the authorities as official casualty rates released continue to be far lower than expected.

Despite the ongoing situation, infection rates and resultant deaths continued to fall in many countries including the UK. For the first time since the pandemic took hold every region of England and Wales recorded a reduced death toll in the general population. Also for the first time London, which was the centre of the worst initial outbreaks, did not have the highest count and recorded the sharpest fall in COVID-19 fatalities of any region in England and Wales.

In Scotland by early June there were less than 1,000 hospitalisations linked to COVID-19, the lowest figure since March, and the `R` Rate, the number of people an individual carrier would likely reinfect, continued to decrease. Speaking in Edinburgh, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that as of 6 June the country`s death toll stood at 2,409.

The situation continued to improve which enabled Scotland to move on to Phase Two of lockdown easing.

Although there was cause for optimism, Ms Sturgeon warned that flare-ups could occur, especially if people did not exercise appropriate social distancing and maintain effective hygiene. A further peak could see the country facing even more stringent restrictions. The very real possibility of a recurrence was emphasised towards the middle of the month when parts of the Chinese capital Beijing experienced a second wave of Coronavirus infections. Authorities there allegedly identified the source as imported salmon sold at the city's largest wholesale seafood and produce market which supplies around 70 per cent of the capital`s daily requirement.

The district around the affected site was supposedly placed on a wartime footing to contain the spread; a large number of internal flights were cancelled and other travel restrictions imposed. The authorities alleged soon after that they had responded firmly and contained this latest outbreak but more was to come - on 29 June, the media reported that China put half-a-million Hebei residents under total lockdown after a further spike, coincidentally again linked to a food market. The latest emergency measures affect swathes of the Hebei province which lies some 80 miles from Beijing.

These incidents are politically embarrassing for China, whose diplomats had been bragging about the country's success in bringing the pandemic, which is believed to have started in the central city of Wuhan, under control. If believed, this contrasts with the chaos and high death tolls experienced in the USA, throughout much of South America and in many European countries. (China images © BBC / PA / Independent).

The UK government announced that it would relax the current two-metre distancing rule to `one-metre plus` in England as of 4 July, by which time it`s hoped that many other restrictions will have been eased. This is despite the warnings of some scientists that the current total of Coronavirus cases remains too high to risk doing so.

Numbers of infected in people in the USA and the Americas are growing at an alarming rate. US states that were among the earliest to reopen, mostly in the south and west, have recently experienced a jump in new cases, which in some instances is not fully explained simply by more widespread testing. This comes as regions in the northeast, particularly New York, which was the country`s main hotspot, show signs of bringing the outbreak under control.

On June 19 for example, almost 27,000 people in the US tested positive for coronavirus over a 24-hour period, the largest one-day increase since early May, propelled by a record number of new cases in California, Florida, Arizona and South Carolina. (Trump image © Forbes).

By the month`s end, the US had recorded over 2.5 million confirmed infections and more than 125,000 deaths, but some health experts estimate that at least 20 million people in the country may have already been infected. At President Trump’s Tulsa rally on June 20th, he said of the country`s COVID-19 testing policy, “Here’s the bad part - when you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down, please.” He also added, “We got another one over here,” regarding a 10-year-old with “the sniffles,” that “will recover in fifteen minutes.” In typical Trump fashion, the US President later denied that he had given the order to slow testing to affect the figures. During a subsequent Coronavirus briefing, Vice-President Mike Pence hailed the Trump administration's "truly remarkable progress in moving our nation forward", highlighting improvements in job figures and retail sales.

In line with other airports, both in the UK and abroad, Glasgow International had already introduced measures to reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission even though commercial flights were largely suspended. These include all staff and passengers being asked to respect social distancing, the implementation of protective screens at key areas such as check-in and security halls, and PPE worn by all staff working within the terminal.

Cleaning procedures have been enhanced with all hard surfaces receiving extra attention. Additional self-cleaning stations for trolleys have been set up in the domestic and international baggage halls and hand sanitisers have been installed throughout.

All passengers are requested to arrive at the airport wearing protective facial coverings and those who don’t will be able to access them inside. All catering, lounges and shops including M&S and Boots are now closed, but a limited selection of food and drinks is available from vending machines. Due to COVID-19, Travelex is currently only offering Home Delivery on all travel money purchases via their website. (Images © Glasgow Airport via Twitter; BBC / Getty).

Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.

Hopefully people will adhere to the safety guidelines, the frequency of flights will continue to pick-up, and scenes like these will be a thing of the past.

(Above image © Glasgow Airport).

Most of the on-site airside cleaning firms, catering companies responsible for providing airline meals, and the airport`s cargo centres, were still under lockdown or operating a greatly reduced schedule, especially at the beginning of the month. These shots feature units in Campsie Drive.

Although a trickle of flights restarted mid-June and passenger numbers slowly began to rise by the end of the month, it`s likely that there won`t be much need for the Long Stay Car Park transfer coaches for a while yet. This trio continues to gather dust in Car Park 1...

Another blow for airport workers at both Glasgow, and Edinburgh came mid-June when more than 300 Menzies Aviation staff were put on notice of imminent redundancy. The company was one of those providing ground handling for aircraft and baggage before the mass cancellation of flights. A spokesperson said that the decision was taken with great sadness due to the unprecedented decline in air travel.

Menzies Aviation had already cut more than 17,500 jobs worldwide in March in response to the global slump triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been using the furlough scheme in the UK to keep workers on the payroll but the firm will soon have to start paying towards the costs. As a result the Unite union said 160 workers based at Glasgow Airport and about 150 workers at Edinburgh Airport face redundancy following the end of the consultation period. In both cases these numbers amount to half the Menzies staff at each airport.

Within days of the Menzies announcement, rival company Swissport intimated that it planned to cut more than 4,500 jobs in the UK which equates to more than half of its 8,500 UK workforce. The company currently has 6,000 of its staff on furlough in line with the government`s Job Retention Scheme.

Swissport employed about 64,000 workers globally before the crisis. Its largest UK operations include service bases at London Gatwick and Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, along with a host of regional airports. It`s believed that the company is proposing to withdraw from Southampton and Aberdeen airports altogether and is reviewing the viability of its operations at Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, Jersey and Gatwick. The latest redundancies will heighten pressure on the government to support the aviation and aerospace industries, which has lost tens of thousands of jobs already.

Judging by the queues that formed immediately after McDonald's drive-thru restaurants reopened in early June, thousands of people across the UK had been desperate for a Big Mac and Chips, or possibly a Happy Meal to keep the kids quiet. (Images © BBC / Daily Record / Daily Mail)

The congestion was so bad at some locations, including several in Scotland, that police attended to assist with traffic control. An outlet in Perth is shown here. The world famous fast-food giant closed all of its restaurants more than 10 weeks ago as lockdown restrictions came into force. The company said that its aim was to reopen 1,000 of its drive-thru or delivery outlets by the first weekend in June. McDonald's said Perspex screens, face coverings, gloves and social distancing measures were in place.

Scotland was the last of the four UK nations to publish specific plans on easing the lockdown with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon being more cautious than her counterparts. Phase Two was implemented on 18 June, but advice to continue with restricted travel and maintain social distancing was often ignored. Even so, with the infection rate remaining at a manageable level the next set of changes were announced. These were intended to go a long way towards the country returning to a `new` normal. Stores of all sizes were able to reopen by the end of June, but only if they had outdoor entrances and exits. Indoor shopping centres, however, had to remain closed for the time being, except where they contain essential shops. Outdoor markets could also restart, as could outdoor sports courts and playgrounds. Zoos and garden attractions were also given the go-ahead but tickets had to be bought in advance. While non-essential offices and call centres had to remain closed, factories, laboratories and warehouses were able to reopen subject to following strict physical distancing, hygiene, health and safety guidelines.

The five-mile travel limit imposed on the country`s population is set to be lifted on 3 July, with the reopening of pubs, restaurants, holiday accommodation, barbers and hairdressers starting on the 15th. With the availability of international air travel extremely limited for the foreseeable future, and totally ruled out for many by other factors, Scotland is set for a massive influx of holidaymakers, particularly those seeking self catering accommodation in remote areas. Even before the latest announcement, people couldn`t resist the draw of the Great Outdoors, particularly given recent spells of superb summer weather - this is the track from Old Kilpatrick that leads to the Loch Humphrey Reservoir shot from my back window on the afternoon of Thursday 11 June.

Scotland and England were to experience some of the worst behaviour associated with easing the lockdown, even before the majority of restrictions were lifted, putting the already stretched emergency services under increased pressure. Crowds flocked to many of Scotland`s beauty spots including well known locations within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Villagers at Luss for example were unable to leave their homes due to the masses of people and abandoned cars, and with the village`s public conveniences closed due to the pandemic, many visitors did their business next to houses while others left large quantities of litter. The situation was so bad that Police Scotland closed off car parks at the most popular locations until the weather deteriorated and targeted any motorists parking illegally elsewhere.

(Images © BBC).

Police were also forced to act when the numbers swelled in Glasgow`s Kelvingrove Park with many people drinking alcohol in breach of local bye-laws and congregating in large groups. Hundreds flocked to the country`s most accessible beaches too, but the situation wasn`t anything like that experienced at Brighton, Bournemouth and other resorts along England`s south coast. Worst hit was Bournemouth after thousands of day-trippers brought the town to a standstill on the second hottest day of the year. Furious council bosses and bewildered residents said they were appalled at the scenes, blasting the irresponsible behaviour and unacceptable actions of many. Apart from the gridlock, indiscriminate parking and overnight camping, anti-social behaviour included drunken fights among beachgoers. Between 30 - 40 tons of litter was cleared from the seafront after the revellers had left. (Beach images © Daily Mail / PA).

Most didn`t seem to mind that social distancing was impossible, raising the chilling prospect of a devastating second wave of the virus.

Meanwhile, back at Glasgow Airport, the grass cutting operation was in full swing...

Following next month`s easing of restrictions it`s hoped that the country`s tourist industry and other dependant businesses will manage to salvage at least something from this year`s shortened summer season and help kick-start the economy. This will be particularly challenging with numerous sporting fixtures and major events including the Edinburgh Festival postponed but others have been cancelled altogether. Phase Four of the route map to lifting the lockdown will allow a variety of events up and down the country to go ahead but no likely dates have been suggested as yet.

The latest easing of restrictions will be of little comfort to many Rolls-Royce workers including 700 at the Inchinnan plant next to Glasgow Airport who, at the beginning of the month, received news that their jobs would be axed. (See Construction & Development section below). There was a great deal of uncertainty and scepticism regarding the UK government`s quarantine policy with air bridges being suggested between countries deemed low-risk, including the Republic of Ireland and France, which would enable travellers to arrive without the need to self isolate for 14 days. All of the options put forward to date were thought by most to be too late, unworkable and unenforceable. No doubt direction will change again next month, but with the Scottish government more wary about relaxing safeguards, it will be extremely difficult to achieve a UK-wide policy.

The future of many staff working at the Braehead Shopping Centre is also uncertain after owner`s Intu entered administration. The firm, which was one of the UK's biggest shopping centre groups, had been struggling even before the Coronavirus outbreak and had sought help with its £4.5bn debt in January.

Intu properties include the Trafford Centre, Manchester; the Metro Centre, Gateshead; the Lakeside complex in Essex, and a couple of similar centres in Spain. The company hopes to keep these sites operating while a solution is found. In Scotland, indoor malls such as these must remain closed for the time being but once customers get the all clear to return, it`s unlikely that the shopping centre giant will be able to maintain footfall as the proportion of online spending, which had been increasing steadily prior to the lockdown, has reached new heights.

Anti-Racism Protests

Apart from the global fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, this month will be remembered for worldwide mass anti-racism protests after a 46-year-old black man, George Floyd, died after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest for allegedly attempting to pass counterfeit currency. The incident, the latest death in the USA of an African American in police custody, was filmed and instigated a tidal wave of shock, anger and revulsion.

Once again, not only allegations of police brutality, but racial tensions in general and inequality were brought to the fore. Although the vast majority demonstrated peacefully at thousands of cities and towns around the globe in the weeks that followed Mr Floyd`s death, many protests turned violent.

Images © BBC News; Sky News; Fox News; FT; Metro).

It`s plain that serious issues with policing in the USA, and indeed the United Kingdom, need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. There are clearly unacceptable factors, many deep rooted which have contributed to the current situation, and like many other organisations, there are individuals employed who are entirely unsuitable for the role, but have not been identified either by the vetting process, or until their true character subsequently comes to light.

However, we are fortunate that in the UK the vast majority of officers, of whom only a small percentage routinely carry firearms, aim to do their best and wouldn`t hesitate to place themselves in harm`s way to protect members of the public irrespective of race or ethnicity. The challenge the police face on a daily basis is made even more difficult under the current pandemic. According to the Met`s Commissioner Cressida Dick, around 140 of her officers were injured in a recent three week period which included various protests and illegal raves in London.

An unconnected knife attack, confirmed as a terrorist incident, took place in a Reading public park and resulted in three people dead and three others injured. Then, in Glasgow, six people, including a 42-year-old police officer, were treated in hospital for serious injuries after being stabbed by the resident of a city centre hotel currently housing asylum seekers. It`s reported that the suspect was shot dead after attempts to incapacitate him by other means failed. (Above Images © Metro.co.uk).

Parked up at Glasgow Airport...

At the airport, aircraft stored at Glasgow as of Monday 1 June were as follows: From the British Airways fleet; Airbus A321s G-EUXC, G-EUXG, G-EUXH, G-EUXK,G-EUXL, G-EUXM, G-MEDF, G-MEDG, G-MEDJ and G-MEDU; A320s G-EUUF, G-EUYH, and G-EUYM; A319 G-DBCE. Virgin Atlantic were down to a pair of A330s (G-VKSS and G-VMIK) after the departure of their two Boeing 747s last month. No change from TUI with Boeing 757 G-BYAY plus 737-8s G-FDZD and G-TAWX. Jet2 had 737-8s G-DRTT, G-JZBB (departed 8th), G-JZBC, G-JZBE, G-JZHM, G-JZHU and G-JZHZ. Also, ex-Flybe DHC8-4s G-JECP, G-JEDV and G-ECOB were still taking up space on Area R.

Ex-Flybe aircraft are in long term storage at various locations but one Dash 8 at Aberdeen Airport made the headlines on the evening of Tuesday 16 June when it crossed the apron and collided with a parked Embraer from the Loganair fleet.

The Bombardier turboprop`s nose ended up wedged under the engine of ERJ-145EP G-SAJS, lifting the jet off the ground. No passengers or crew were on board the Loganair aircraft at the time.

The ex-Flybe turboprop was being prepared for departure and began rolling, seemingly even though its props weren`t turning. Although no-one was injured, those on board were understandably shaken.

Aberdeen International Airport confirmed that the incident happened at about 18:00 hours and that the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is now examining the circumstances. Mobile phone footage showing the bizarre incident has been uploaded on Twitter and is worth a look: Click here to check it out.

(Above images © BBC).

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The first visitor of note to call at Glasgow this month wasn`t an aircraft, but a cruise ship. The Azamara Pursuit, which up until recently had plied the tropical waters of the Caribbean and oceans off South America, sailed up the Clyde shortly after dawn on Monday 1 June. The vessel had left Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 2 March 2020, on a voyage that was scheduled to end in Lima, Peru, on 23 March.

Carrying 675 passengers and 389 crew members, she had left Ushuaia, Argentina, on 8 March. The cruise ship was then denied landing at Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, after Chilean authorities said that she was carrying passengers infected with Coronavirus. However, the company said that it had confirmed that there were no positive cases on board.

From Chile, the `Pursuit set off for Miami, via the Panama Canal, with all passengers and crew still on board. By 24 March, she was off the coast of Ecuador, and finally arrived in Miami on 29 March; no passengers had become ill from the bug. They were subsequently off loaded and the ship sailed across the Atlantic with only a skeleton crew on board. The ones out on deck when the ship passed me looked very happy, possibly due to the fact that with no passengers on board they now have complete use of the facilities!

(Interior images © Travel Weekly).

Azamara Quest (below) sailed upriver on the second high tide of Friday 19 June, which unfortunately for photographers coincided with sundown. This wouldn`t necessarily have been a problem on one of the longest days of the year but overcast skies made it a dull affair. Even so, I haven`t seen the Erskine / Clydebank stretch of the Clyde as busy with sightseers since the Commonwealth games Flotilla passed by en route to the City Centre six years ago.

Around 250 small ships, yachts, motor launches and work boats sailed up the River Clyde from Greenock to Glasgow on 26 July 2014 as part of the city's Commonwealth Games celebrations. The flotilla, the largest assembly of vessels ever seen on the Upper Clyde, was organised by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Scotland. Crowds lined most of the accessible stretches of riverbank on both sides of the river and cheered on the crews as they headed, very slowly, towards the City Centre. There was still plenty of room on the ground in front of the Mar Hall Hotel Golf Course but Bowling Basin, the western end of the Forth & Clyde Canal, directly opposite was packed.

At the time, Police Scotland said it would mount its largest-ever operation in Glasgow over the weekend to help the city cope with the anticipated crowds. An estimated 280,000 people visited on the Saturday alone. Surprisingly (and a major disappointment for many) the Waverley didn`t accompany the yachts upriver so Cal Mac`s ferry Lochinvar, Clyde Clipper and Cruiser, the largest of the participating vessels, stood in at the head of the flotilla. The Games themselves were a resounding triumph with the host nation showing off its world famous hospitality, lots of excitement for the spectators and plenty of medals for Team Scotland - even the weather held (for the most part!).

Included in the flotilla was Drum, one of the most famous yachts in the world. Formerly co-owned by lead singer of Duran Duran, Simon le Bon, she was designed and built by Ireland-based boat-builder Ron Holland specifically to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. In 1985, Drum took part in the Fastnet Race and was one of the favourites to win, however, due to a design failure, the boat lost its keel and capsized off Falmouth which sparked world-wide media attention. Before being rescued, Le Bon and the other crew members were trapped underwater inside the hull for forty minutes. They were subsequently picked up by a Royal Navy helicopter, earning the rescue diver involved a George Medal. Despite the accident, Le Bon and Drum went on to participate in the 1985-1986 Whitbread Round the World Race, coming in third overall.

In 1988 Drum was in the news again when it was involved in a collision with a Royal Navy submarine. Le Bon and his partners eventually sold the yacht which was subsequently acquired by Scottish businessman Sir Arnold Clark. Several hits from the band`s back catalogue would be particularly apt given Drum`s colourful history: Save a Prayer, Notorious, and one a prospective buyer, even if an experienced car salesman, should ask - Is There Something I Should Know?

Although not taking part in the flotilla, Faslane-based HMS Bangor (M109), a Sandown-class Minehunter, berthed early at Pacific Quay and was open to the public during the Games.

The Quay, on the south side of the river including the area adjacent to BBC Scotland Headquarters and the Science Centre was one of four main entertainment venues in the City. There was live music and dancing throughout the day and a huge panoramic screen at each location beamed live TV pictures of the sporting events.

It was fortunate Bangor`s crew was on hand on 21 July when a small fire, caused by an electrical fault, broke out in the Glasgow Science Centre Tower. Emergency Services were alerted after smoke was spotted coming from the cable which supplies power to one of the tower's two lifts, but sailors rushed to the scene and managed to put out the flames before the fire brigade arrived. It turned out that there was no truth in the rumour that Bangor`s badge would be changed to a lion carrying a fire extinguisher!

The futuristic Science Centre structure, which cost £10 million to build, has been plagued with problems since it first opened in 2001. It had reopened just before the Commonwealth Games began after a gap of 4 years and a £1.8 million refurbishment. Ten people were trapped for several hours in 2005 when a fault developed with the lifts.

Most of the local kids seemed disappointed that HMS Bangor`s guns weren`t loaded and ready for action!

"Whit dae ye mean there`s naebody in the diving suit!
Right enough, ah thought he wiz a bit quiet."

"Ah`ve jist spent the last fifteen minutes chattin` him
up, tellin` ma life story and askin` him oot fur a date!"

Royal Marine and Judo Gold medallist Chris Sherrington was kept busy, signing autographs and posing for photos at the bottom of the gangplank. The Team Scotland athlete had been suffering from post traumatic stress following a harrowing tour of duty in Iraq nine years before and admitted in a candid press interview that he had been in danger of going off the rails, spending a whopping £8,500 in three months on drink - a phenomenal `cargo`, even by Scottish standards! Having been introduced to Judo as a child, he channelled his energy into the sport which eventually helped to combat his stress and frustration and he soon rose through the British rankings. Within 12 months he was third in Britain and a year after that he was number one.

Although excited at the prospect of an autograph from one of their Team Scotland heroes, the kids were obviously in awe and on their best behaviour! Cheered on by a raucous crowd at the SECC, Sherrington had defeated South Africa`s Ruan Snyman in the +100kg final and as well as celebrating his win he took time to acknowledge his supporters on all four sides of the arena. One thing`s guaranteed - no one will try to steal his Gold Medal!

And back to the present...

Around the same time that the `Quest approached Braehead, the last of the trio, Azamara Journey, was off northern Portugal. Initially due at Glasgow on Monday 22 June, she didn`t appear until mid-afternoon on the 24th, having spent a couple of days cruising around the bottom of Kintyre an out towards Islay. Like her predecessors, she would have to be deep-cleaned on arrival at the KGV and this gave the reception committee time to prepare. On the 22nd, however, Norwegian cruise ships Viking Sky, Viking Sea and Viking Sun arrived at Belfast, Northern Ireland, to lay-up there. Numerous other cruise ships have already dropped anchor off the south coast of England to wait out the slump.

Wednesday 24 June 2020 was a fairly busy day on the Clyde with coaster Eems Dover just ahead of Azamara Journey as she made her way to Glasgow`s King George V Dock, plus American Supply Ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) departed the MOD depot at Loch Striven. Bro Distributor was bound for Clydebank but joined her sister Bro Developer and two other larger tankers, Frankopan and Sloman Helios at anchor in Brodick Bay to await a berth, the latter three bound for the Finnart Oil Terminal on Loch Long. Following on behind the cruise ship and unconnected with her arrival was MV Garrion Owl which had sailed up from Girvan, South Ayrshire.

The arrival of the last of the three cruise ships destined for Glasgow was well publicised and combined with fine weather the event became a major attraction. Most of the publicly accessible vantage points were well attended, the most popular soon becoming congested, and as it was unlikely that all spectators would exercise the recommended social distancing, I decided to head for the Kilpatrick Hills. Normally on a sunny day shots of the Clyde have to be taken directly into the sun but the sky was partially overcast. It was very warm but heat haze wasn`t a problem either. I had my chosen spot to myself and was able to monitor the `Journey`s journey from Longhaugh Point at Bishopton all the way to the entrance to the KGV.

Above: Eems Dover passing Braehead. The first two Azamara-line cruise ships in the KGV Dock tower above the IKEA store which only reopened a couple of days before and would likely have been even more crowded than the riverside walkway. The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, at the forefront of Glasgow`s fight against the Coronavirus is in the background. The Azamara Journey heading for lay-up with her sisters, plus a Virgin A330 and numerous BA Airbuses in long term storage at nearby Glasgow Airport in the following shot act as a small reminder of the catastrophic impact that the pandemic has had on the leisure and travel industry worldwide, with worse no doubt yet to come.

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Jet Airliners

Following easyJet`s limited schedule resumption, the Luton-based carrier`s first flight in almost 12 weeks was on Monday 15 June when Airbus A320-214 G-EZRT flew from London Gatwick to Glasgow, arriving here about 08:00 hrs. Among those on board was travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder who wanted to check out the new look `socially distanced` passenger experience.

Mr Calder gave live updates on ITV Good Morning Britain, the first from Gatwick Airport after going through an eerily quiet security search area. Once airside he said: "I'm here in the departure lounge and there are about 50 people. But I think I'm the only normal person, everybody else seems to be a member of the easyJet cabin crew. They are here just to see what the experience is like and it's really quite strange."

"I was the only person in security. There were about 40 security staff who offered to help and it's great to be back on board but I tell you what, the prices, my goodness me. I paid £175 for this." But as he boarded the plane, Mr Calder, who is currently senior travel editor for The Independent newspaper, revealed how impossible it is to follow social distancing measures on the packed flight. He said: "There's a couple of empty seats and you'll see behind me there's quite a lot of empty seats. But if I just turn the camera around, you'll see it's actually quite crowded on board."

"Of course, everybody is wearing masks, and the hope is that if we all carry on wearing masks, we'll be able to stay safe." Asked why easyJet is allowed to sit passengers at a distance smaller than the recommended two metres, Mr Calder said: "Look, it's your choice. They're doing everything they can. They've got high-efficiency particulate air filters so the air is coming down and it's going straight into the floor, they say, so if anybody has any coughs or sneezes that's not going to affect me. That's the theory. But you're going to be taking a risk, of course, you are."

G-EZRT being prepared for the return flight to Gatwick on the 16th.

easyJet's Chief Executive Johan Lundgren insisted he would feel 100 percent safe, even on packed planes, after the airline took guidance from international regulators to develop an enhanced safety and hygiene regime. In addition to the aforementioned measures, aircraft are regularly deep-cleaned, plus disinfection wipes and hand sanitiser are being made widely available.

With the global reduction in passenger numbers sometimes leaving entire fleets grounded, and the long-term viability of extensive air travel in question, British Airways, like many of its competitors, has had to take extraordinary steps. It has reached deep into the public purse for support, furloughing more than 30,000 staff and borrowing £300 million from a Bank of England support fund.

However, following long running animosity between BA workers and the carrier`s parent company IAG, headed by chief executive Willie Walsh, the latest episode saw the hierarchy accused of cynically using the Coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to press new contracts on the furloughed members of staff. These contracts, which were presented to unions last month, could cut some cabin crew salaries by up to 70% and impose what workers say are inferior terms and conditions. BA stated that any staff that do not accept them will be fired. Potentially they could be re-hired, but only on the company's terms. In common with many other carriers BA will also make job cuts though its 12,000 redundancies is the largest cull planned by any European airline. But it is alone in choosing to impose a mass restructuring of its workforce at a time when the majority of employees are furloughed and already anxious about their future prospects.

Work at the Glasgow British Airways Maintenance Unit has continued throughout with social distancing measures in place, although the atmosphere must be pretty gloomy given the latest news. Campaigners staged a demonstration at Edinburgh Airport and outside the Scottish Parliament building later in the month protesting at BA`s plans for job cuts...

(Above image © dailybusinessgroup.co.uk / Terry Murden).

Unite executive officer, Sharon Graham said “British Airways’ project fire and rehire will damage the previously trusted BA brand. IAG’s restructuring of British Airways is a high risk gamble. No other airline has used the current crisis to attack workers’ terms and conditions in the way BA have. There are clear alternative solutions that BA is just not taking. It is more proof that BA’s drastic cuts do not stack up.” The company maintains that it needs to impose a “restructuring and redundancy programme” until demand for air travel returns to 2019 levels.

A330-2 G-VMIK departed for Manchester on the afternoon of Tuesday 16 June, using flight number VIR833P.

Embraer ERJ-145EP G-SAJJ parked outside the Loganair hangar on Sunday 7 June was still there on the 10th (below)....

On Thursday 11 June, Boeing 737-8 G-JZBC in Jet2 Holidays livery was towed from its stand at the west pier and taken onto Runway 05 at link Echo before exiting at Foxtrot. I assume the aircraft was being re-positioned to one of the opposite stands and there wasn`t enough room on the apron to do so directly.

Wizz Air made a welcome return to Glasgow Airport this month. Pictured above is Airbus A320-232(WL) HA-LYM lifting off from Runway 05 on Monday 8 June. A320-232 HA-LWA (below) was shot from the house on the 5th...

The first non-UK airliner to visit this month was Embraer ERJ-175STD PH-EXM of KLM Cityhopper which flew in on the 1st. The Schiphol - Glasgow route had been suspended last month with the Netherlands - Scotland connection maintained from Edinburgh throughout May. The Dutch carrier has since resumed flights to both Glasgow and the Scottish capital. Apart from that, there weren`t really any other jet airliners worth a mention. Ryanair operated some flights and a couple of the stored Jet 2 Boeing 737-8s took to the air. G-JZBB departed but G-GDFW arrived to take its place on 8 June. Also, Jet2 Boeing 737-8Q8(WL) G-DRTT went up for a test flight on the 11th and returned later that day.

Embraer ERJ-175STD PH-EXH (above) of KLM Cityhopper was snapped on the 10th. The Dutch carrier increased capacity on its Amsterdam - Glasgow route from Monday 22 June by upgrading to Embraer 190s. They are also gradually resuming flights from Schiphol to other European and intercontinental destinations; as of next month there will be two flights per day from London Heathrow and Manchester, plus daily departures from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Inverness, Leeds Bradford, London City and Newcastle as well as Glasgow.

A320-232 HA-LWH operated WZZ1080/6480 from / to Budapest on Friday 26 June.

Below: Pakistan`s national carrier PIA will have a tough job convincing people that the slogan on their current logo is accurate after it emerged that 262 of the country`s airline pilots were grounded until further notice after a probe into fraudulent qualifications. It`s suspected that obtaining fake pilot`s licences there is widespread and the situation came to light after the preliminary report into the Karachi plane crash on 22 May this year which found the captain and co-pilot had failed to follow standard procedures and disregarded alarms. The Airbus A320 aircraft was carrying 91 passengers and a crew of eight when it plummeted into a residential area shortly before landing. The crash claimed the lives of 93 people. Only two passengers miraculously survived.

It was revealed that Pakistani authorities had been investigating collusion between pilots and civil aviation officials since late 2018. The suspected individuals were accused of having someone sit one or more examinations for them, and some even had obtained all eight papers required for an airline pilot's licence by fraud. PIA had what I recall was a relatively short run of scheduled services between Glasgow and Pakistan about 15 years ago. I took the above low-quality night shot of one their big jets at the terminal back in November 2015. (Accident wreckage image © Statesman / AFP).

Embraer ERJ-190STD PH-EZT worked KLM1473/34M on 30 June 2020.

Turboprop Airliners

One of this month`s highlights, ATR 42-320(F) HA-KAM of Fleet Air International (not photographed) arrived at 18:00 hrs on Thursday 25 June and parked up overnight on stand 65. This Hungarian-based carrier was established in 2007 and specialises in urgent cargo deliveries for short and medium haul routes throughout Europe. Fleet Air International operates another ATR 42/72 and a pair of SAAB 340 freighters. Apart from HA-KAM, the only other turboprop at Glasgow worth a mention was Swiftair Embraer EMB-120FC Brasilia EC-HTS which landed on the 19th and remained for a while.

The current Flybe situation contrasts sharply with the carrier`s extensive operations at Glasgow over the years.

The above shot was taken in June 2016. Up until Flybe folded at the end of last year, their aircraft accounted for a large percentage of movements here.

DHC8-4 G-JECP departed for Weeze / Niederrhein Airport, Germany, on Monday 15 June, presumably for further storage; One down, two to go...

Then G-ECOB departed for Saarbrücken, Germany, on the 30th.

When I passed by the airport on June 30, purple-liveried G-JEDV was being worked on so it`s likely that it will disappear in early July.

This is probably the last Flybe van we`ll ever see here too!

Top left: Loganair Saab 340B G-LGNG on the Gama apron, Friday 5 June 2020. This aircraft has been assigned to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service in the transfer of COVID-19 patients. Twin Otter G-BVVK was outside the Loganair hangar on the 14th. Below: Ready for departure, Twin Otter G-SGTS taxis for Golf One on Thursday 11 June.

Twin Otter G-BVVK was bound for Islay.

FedEX ATR72 EI-FXK which had been grounded here since the start of the pandemic went up for a test flight on Friday 19 June.

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Biz-Jets

On Wednesday 10 June, Gulfstream G650ER VP-CYL did five touch-and-gos of Runway 05 between 18:30 and 19:25 hrs before landing at 19:40 hrs.

May visitors still here were Gulfstream IV N619A and Pilatus PC-24 HB-VRF (right), the latter a stopover from the 31st. The Gulfstream didn`t leave until 6 June. Making an appearance this month were Cessna Citation Bravo G-CMBC and Embraer Phenom 300 2-EMBR (5th); Cessna CitationJet CJ1 F-HAJD and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (7th); Honda HA-420 HondaJet Elite N77VA (8th); Gulfstream G650ER VP-CYL (10th); Citation Bravo G-IPLY (11th)...

Learjet 35A D-CFIV Air Alliance Express (13th); Eclipse 500 2-JEZA (15th); Challenger 604 D-AFAA (16th); Cirrus SF-50 Vision N707SN, Cessna Citation M2 M-KNOX and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (19th); Cessna 525A F-HVLJ (21st); Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy G-PRFX and CitationJet CJ1 G-LUBB (23rd); CitationJet CJ2 G-LFBD (24th); Bombardier Global 5000 M-PORT and Embraer Phenom 300 2-EMBR (26th); Citation Mustang OE-FPP (27th)...

Lastly, CitationJet CJ3+ D-CUGF of Atlas Air Service called in on Monday 29 June followed by CitationJet CJ1 G-LUBB again on the 30th.

Above: Embraer Phenom 300 2-EMBR and Gulfstream IV N619A. Friday 5 June 2020.

Cessna Citation Bravo G-IPLY has visited Glasgow on numerous occasions.

The latest appearance was on Thursday 11 June 2020, when I caught the jet being refuelled on Area J before it taxied for takeoff.

Gulfstream 650 VP-CYL (parked on Area R below) took-off on the 12th and left the Glasgow area after doing two touch-and-gos on Runway 05.

Above distant, hazy shots of Eclipse 500 2-JEZA (left) on the 15th and German Bombardier Challenger 604 D-AFAA on the 16th.

Above: Cessna Citation M2 M-KNOX parked on Area Juliet. Friday 19 June 2020.

Right: Not the best shot, but US-registered Cirrus SF-50 Vision N707SN, seen here on the 21st, was the most unusual plane to visit this month. Also known as the Vision Jet, it made its maiden flight on 3 July 2008. Development slowed in 2009 due to lack of funding but in 2011 Cirrus was bought by CAIGA, a Chinese enterprise that provided funds for the project to continue. The test flying program resulted in the US Federal Aviation Administration awarding a type certificate on 28 October 2016. Deliveries started on 19 December 2016.

Powered by a single Williams FJ33 turbofan, the all-carbon fibre, low-wing Vision SF-50 is pressurised, cruises at 300 kn (560 km/h) and has a range of over 1,200 nmi (2,200 km).

A remarkable feature is the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) which deploys from the nose of the aircraft making the SF50 the first jet of any kind to come with a complete-aircraft ballistic parachute. Reviews have compared its performance to high-performance single turboprop aircraft. In 2018 the Vision Jet was awarded the Collier Trophy for the `greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America` during the preceding year, being the first certified single-engine civilian jet. At USD $2 million, this seven-seater aircraft is the most affordable private jet in the world and costs roughly fifty-percent less than its closest similarly-powered rivals. Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, a number of air taxi operators had expressed an interest in potentially using the Vision SF50 and some industry experts have suggested that the jet could help revive the air taxi industry.

Above: Manx-registered Bombardier Global 5000 M-PORT shut down and unattended on the Royal Pan shortly after arrival on Friday 26 June.

General Aviation

As usual, UK-registered King Airs accounted for most of the GA movements this month: King Air 200 G-IASA (1st); King Air 200s G-GMAE, G-FLYK, G-JASS, G-REXA and M-CDJC, plus Cessna 421C Golden Eagle G-ISAR (2nd); King Air 200 G-CDZT (5th); Cessna 421C G-ISAR and King Air 200 G-CDZT both returned (7th); Pilatus PC-12 G-OMSL (8th); King Air 350 M-LLMW, King Air 200 G-JASS plus Cessna F406 Caravan II G-RVLW (10th); Pilatus PC-12 G-OMSL returned (plus other dates) (11th); AgustaWestland AW189 G-MCGP HM Coastguard and Bell 429-Global Ranger G-HPIN (13th); Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II G-RVLG (14th); On 17 June, northbound Coastguard AW189 G-MCGN woke me up at 03:00 hrs when it flew low over the house after taking off from the airport. The last of June`s GA visitors were King Air 200 G-WCCP (19th); King Air 200 G-WNCH (24th); Piper PA-31-Navajo G-ILZZ flew in from Biggin Hill on the 28th. Rounding things off were King Air 200s G-FPLD and G-JASS on the 30th.

Above: King Air 200s G-GMAE and G-PCOP on the Gama apron. Friday 5 June 2020.

King Air 200 G-IASA (above right) is a familiar sight at Glasgow.

The strawberry pickers were out in force at East Yonderton Farm when Thales King Air 200 G-FPLD landed on 30 June.

Based Air Ambulances: King Air G-SASC and chopper G-GSAS (below left).

Above right: This unidentified Coastguard helicopter flew low over the house at hrs on 1 June. With the lockdown easing, despite guidance to maintain limited travel for exercise for the time being, Scotland`s hills, mountains and coastal paths will see drastically increased footfall in the months ahead. On Saturday 20 June, Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, normally one of Scotland`s busiest, had its first call-out since the start of the lockdown. MRT members went to the aid of a climber with a suspected broken leg on Buachaille Etive Mor's Curved Ridge (right). A block of stone the climber had expected to be part of the bedrock came loose and fell on his leg. (Following image © Glencoe MRT).

The Inverness-based HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter also responded and completed what Glencoe MRT described as a "tricky winch" to bring the climber onboard and fly him to hospital. Although some class the route as merely a scramble, it has seen a number of fatalities over the years.

Team leader Andy Nelson said it was a legitimate call-out, and the injured climber and his partner would not have been able to get themselves to safety without assistance. I`ve climbed the steep, moderately exposed ridge twice in summer and appreciated the security of a rope on my second ascent. Curved Ridge is a Grade II Winter climb rising to Grade III after heavy snowfall.

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Military

It was revealed this month that one of the RAF`s Voyager transport aircraft, tasked with flying PM Boris Johnson and senior ministers to global events and summits, was being repainted at a cost to the taxpayer of £900,000. The aircraft in question had already undergone a £10 million refit in 2016 in order to save about £775,000 per year, as a dedicated aircraft is typically cheaper than chartering flights. According to a government spokesman, the new livery will supposedly promote the UK around the world without compromising the plane’s vital military tanker role, but the cost, especially at a time when sourcing PPE and financing research into a Coronavirus vaccine, has understandably drew a vast amount of adverse criticism. (Before and after Voyager images © BBC / PA).

The Brexit paint job was carried out by the Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group at Cambridge and the aircraft was rolled out in late June. Allegedly a more apt and far cheaper alternative involving thick rope and superglue was considered for the new look BOR FORCE ONE but was ruled out due to the national furlough of hairdressers ...

Military activity at Glasgow in June comprised Westland Puma HC.2 XW204 of the RAF which called in for a time on Tuesday 2 June. RAF Shadow R1 (King Air 350CER) ZZ504 Call-sign `Vulcan 54` did a low approach then a go-around of Runway 05 at 10:45 & 11:04 hrs (3rd); On Monday 8 June, while on a training sortie from Brize Norton, A400M Atlas ZM410, call-sign `Ascot 482`, did a single go-around of Runway 05 at 10:10 hrs. The big transport continued north to Tiree before about-turning and heading back to base.

The next RAF plane to appear was British Aerospace 146 CC.2 ZE701 which called in on Wednesday 10 June, followed by C130J ZH872 `Comet 198` which did 2 touch-and-gos on the 11th. The Herc (right) returned that evening as `Ascot 199` and did another three touch-and-gos at 20:10, 20:20 and 20:35.

C-130J ZH875 call-sign `Comet 163` did touch-and-gos on Runway 05 at 14:37 & 14:54 hours on Friday 26 June. Royal Navy EH101 Merlin HM1 ZH845 call-sign `Tiger 63` visited on the 29th but the highlight on the military front came on the last day in the shape of Luftwaffe Airbus A340-313X 16+01 (below) call-sign `GAF 918`which did a single go-around of Runway 23. (30th).

The German Air Force have have apparently favoured Glasgow International as opposed to Prestwick for many of their transport aircraft training sorties over the past year or so with smaller Airbus and Global jets showing up periodically.

Germany currently has two A340s in service as VIP transports, with a larger Airbus A350-900 on order. This latest addition to the fleet is currently being fitted out at Lufthansa Technik.

Left: On Thursday 7 March last year Airbus A340-313X 16+02, pictured on its approach, also did an overshoot, but of Runway 05 as the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, as 16+01 did on this occasion, the big plane checked its descent and started its climb out fairly early.

Armed Forces Day 2020

Saturday, 27 June was Armed Forces Day 2020 in United Kingdom. Normally events are held throughout the country not only to pay tribute to regular service personnel but reservists, veterans, their family and friends, plus civilian contractors, all of whom provide vital support, but the Coronavirus crisis meant that this year most of the celebrations took place online for the first time. However, the Red Arrows still performed a fly-past in North Yorkshire, taking in the Army's Catterick Garrison, RAF Leeming and the town of Scarborough, where the main event was due to take place before it was cancelled. There is normally a venue chosen for the national focus with other towns and cities hosting local smaller parades, commemorations and displays. (Above image © London Evening Standard).

Back in 2014, the then Prime Minister David Cameron and the Princess Royal joined thousands of members of the public at the sixth annual Armed Forces Day which was held in the shadow of iconic Stirling Castle. The programme included massed pipes and drums, joint services demonstrations, a display by two Spitfires and a Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a Typhoon jet, and various helicopters, military reenactors, vintage and current armour and military vehicles, as well as the world-famous Red Arrows. This was only the second time that Armed Forces Day, originally known as Veterans` Day, was held in Scotland, coincidentally on the same weekend that the city marked the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

It was a superb spectacle, especially given the historic location, but the Scottish weather didn`t play along. Several torrential afternoon downpours disrupted proceedings and sent visitors, including me, scurrying for shelter. Luckily the assault boat on display didn`t need to be brought into action.

Equipped with a dry suit, this Navy diver was faring far better in his submersion tank than those caught in the rain and hail, however, it all proved too much for an inflatable Marine! Fortunately, it was "All hands to the pumps!" once the rain stopped and he was soon back on duty!

It looks as though even Royal Marines have to keep their status updated on Facebook!

I`d expected any aircraft, including the Red Arrows, to hurtle into view over Stirling Castle and managed to get into a good head-on position at the far end of the arena. Unfortunately, possibly due to an unfavourable wind direction or even local restrictions, none did. Still great to see though!

One of the Spitfires bore D-Day invasion stripes in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day (See 76th Anniversary below) which took place on 6 June 1944. An earlier flypast at Stirling by a Sea Fury and Swordfish of the Royal Navy`s Historic flight had to be cancelled after one of the planes developed a technical fault.

Above: Royal Navy Sea Kings and RN Westland Lynx HMA.8 SRU XZ726 (316). The designated helicopter landing area at the site had been marked out to represent the full-size deck plan of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. There were two Joint Services displays involving choppers and troops on the ground but the second took place during what turned out to be the worst downpour of the day, hence no photos of that one!

The first scenario was a hostage rescue situation with several civilians held captive in a compound. After the target was designated by the Lynx, cannon fire and a rocket from the Apache dealt with any enemy troops who hadn`t sought cover before Sea King HC4 Commandos landed teams who joined up with the recce party on the ground for the final assault.

Not quite Apocalypse Now but impressive nonetheless.

I hope to add a dedicated Armed Forces Day at Stirling page with views of the parade etc in the not too distant future. (Link to follow here when available).

(Above image © Steve Moyes)

My nephew took this superb view of HMS Queen Elizabeth which has been moored in Stoke`s Bay, Gosport. off the South Coast of England, for some time. Portsmouth and its distinctive Spinnaker Tower can be seen in the distance in front of the rising sun. The UK`s armed forces have continued to operate throughout the pandemic both at home and oversea and have been involved in the UK's response, helping to repatriate British citizens from abroad, designing and distributing PPE and constructing hospitals. Vladimir Putin`s forces continue to test NATO`s response by flying aircraft towards UK airspace and positioning warships close to UK waters, requiring RAF jets and Royal Navy warships to constantly monitor proceedings.

(Above image © Royal Navy).

The government spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, has recently expressed concerns that funding for the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers, each of which cost more than £3 billion, would be even more difficult to achieve as a result of the impending financial crash brought on by Coronavirus. Missing key elements such as aircraft and support ships were also highlighted but the Ministry of Defence maintained it expects to meet its target of declaring an "initial operating capability" for the carriers by December 2020. It remains uncertain whether the first of the carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, would be fully ready in time for 2028 when Amphibious Assault Ship HMS Albion (L14), an Albion-class Landing Platform Dock, is due to be taken out of service.

F-35A Lightning IIs will operate from the new carriers but the NAO said that the MOD had yet to commit the funding required for enough of these state-of-the-art fighter jets to sustain the carriers over their expected 50-year operating life. I took the above F-35A shots at RIAT Fairford a few years ago, although this particular aircraft is operated by the US Marine Corps rather than the Royal Navy or RAF.

(Above image © Daily Mail / Digital South).

The National Audit Office also said the Navy had just one supply ship able to keep the carriers stocked with food and ammunition while on operations. It further warned that the carriers' new Crowsnest airborne radar system which forms a crucial part of their defences was running 18 months late, further diminishing the vessels` capabilities. No one at the MOD appears to be entirely sure of the costs overall. What is clear though is that all the elements of a Carrier Strike force will take a significant bite out of the defence budget at a time when it's already under strain.

The 76th Anniversary of D-Day

This year marks the 76th Anniversary of D-Day, the 6th of June 1944 being unquestionably one of the most important dates in modern history. This was when almost 160.000 Allied troops stormed the Normandy beaches to start the liberation of Western-Europe. The amphibious assault was preceded by 24.000 troops who parachuted in or landed by glider. Forming the core of the airborne armada was a fleet of over 800 Douglas C-47 Skytrains, known as Dakotas to the British. These winged workhorses carried the bulk of the Allied paratroopers and their follow-on support units across the English Channel to help breach Hitler`s Atlantic Wall.

Memorial Pegasus, Ranville.

I was fortunate to make a long anticipated visit to the D-Day beaches and landing grounds a couple of years ago and there is an extensive section, covering not only D-Day itself, but the bitter Battle for Normandy that followed, on this website. I have combined my own photos with many fascinating archive images which are now in the public domain, or available to use if certain guidelines are followed. More information can be found here: D-Day Home Page.

One of the last surviving B-26 Marauder bombers, ‘Dinah Might’, is on display at the UTAH Beach Museum.

Last year, to commemorate the last major milestone that the dwindling number of D-Day veterans would be able to attend, there were numerous high profile events and commemorations but obviously this time round activities will be drastically restricted. In June 2019, to honour those who took part, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in the quest to liberate Europe, the Daks Over Normandy gathering saw around thirty DC-3/C-47’s come together which was the largest gathering of the type since the Second World War. Many of these iconic aircraft passed through Prestwick en route to France. Click here to view my report.

St Valery: The Forgotten Dunkirk

Also commemorated this month was a largely forgotten episode in the fight against Nazi Germany which saw the sacrifice of the 51st Highland Division at the small French fishing port of St Valery-en-Caux in June 1940. In the days after the successful mass evacuation at Dunkirk, more than 10,000 men made a desperate last stand having been ordered to fight on against Hitler's war machine in the face of overwhelming odds. In the famous photo below left, a dejected Major General Victor Morven Fortune, the 51st`s commander, stands on the harbour front beside Erwin Rommel after the surrender.

The 51st Division had landed in France in January 1940, as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during the period known as the Phoney War. Following the German`s lightning push west across the Low Countries in May 1940, the BEF, along with elements of the French army, were forced back to northern France by attacking enemy forces.

The Highland division became separated from the main concentration of troops and while hundreds of thousands of expeditionary soldiers headed for Dunkirk, the 51st was ordered to hold the line with the French army. Over the course of a few days, almost 340,000 British and French troops were famously evacuated from the beach at Dunkirk but the 51st Highland Division was charged with recapturing the Abbeville bridgehead on the Somme. The plan suffered from poor co-ordination between Allied artillery, tanks and infantry, and the attack on 4 June resulted in heavy casualties.

The Germans launched a counter-attack the following day, outflanking the Allies and trapping the 51st Highland Division, plus stragglers from other dispersed units, along with elements of the French 9th Army Corps, who withdrew to the coastal town of St Valéry. Major General VM Fortune, commander of the 51st, asked to be evacuated on 11 June. But the Germans were determined to avoid another Dunkirk and four of their divisions were sent in. Despite stubborn Allied resistance, the 7th Panzer Division soon captured the cliff-tops overlooking the harbour, making an evacuation highly dangerous. Even so, a plan was put in place but dense fog delayed the Navy's rescue attempt.

The night of 11 June was the Highlanders' last chance to evacuate, but Fortune remained unable to contact the ships waiting offshore waiting for a chance to move in. Elements of the 51st were still counter-attacking, but the French surrendered. Fortune realised that his position was hopeless and did likewise. POWs captured at St Valery, many of whom were wounded, looked out from the clifftops across the English Channel as they were being march away to see some of the ships that had been sent to rescue them head back across the English Channel.

Exhausted troops evacuated from Dunkirk arrive at ports on England`s South Coast.

It wasn't the end of the 51st however - in August 1940, the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division (the 51st`s Territorial Army equivalent) was re-designated as the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division which was bolstered by adding several understrength units. Once the threat of a German invasion of Great Britain had passed, training continued in earnest until June 1942 when the division was ordered to prepare for service overseas. It experienced its first fighting at the Second Battle of El Alamein (October–November), sustaining some 2,000 casualties. Thereafter it fought throughout the North African campaign until the Afrika Corps surrendered, then took part in the invasion of Sicily. The majority of the 51st landed in France on 7 June 1944, initially supporting the British 6th Airborne who were holding a bridgehead around the River Orne. The following gallery contains images held by the Imperial War Museum which shows men of the reformed 51st HD after the town was liberated following the D-Day landings in June 1944.

The tragic episode of June 1940 was immortalised in the march Heroes of St Valery, which was composed by Lewis-born Pipe Major Donald MacLean, who was one of those captured when the town fell. This month, as a tribute to the thousands of Scots who were killed or captured in the Battle of St Valery, an estimated 500 pipers across the world blasted out the tune to mark the anniversary of the `Forgotten Dunkirk`. Poppy Scotland. the organisers of the event, had asked not only military pipers to take part, but other pipers and musicians to play on their doorsteps at 10:00 hrs.

HMT Lancastria

William Beardmore & Co`s extensive shipyard facility at Dalmuir used to stand on the site now occupied by the Golden Jubilee Hospital and was one of the main producers of vessels, both merchant and naval, on the River Clyde. Numerous Allied Clyde-built vessels were among those that were sunk in seas and oceans around the globe during the Second World War with horrendous loss of life. One such ship built at Beardmore`s was the liner RMS Lancastria. When hostilities commenced in 1939 she operated as a cargo vessel until April 1940 when she was requisitioned as a troopship (HMT), in time to enable her to assist in the evacuation of Allied forces following the Fall of Norway.

Just two weeks after Operation Dynamo, when the remnants of the British and French armies were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, and a few days after the 51st (Highland) Division surrendered at St Valery, His Majesty’s Troopship Lancastria was directed to the south of France where another mass-evacuation of troops and British nationals was taking place.

By mid-afternoon of Monday 17 June 1940, Lancastria was severely overcrowded with somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 persons crammed on board. When she was approximately 9 nm (17 km) out of St. Nazaire, a sustained air attack by Luftwaffe bombers scored three direct hits which caused the ship to roll over and quickly sink to the bottom.

One bomb had landed in a hold containing around 800 RAF personnel, another exploded in a second hold causing fuel to spill out, and the other according to some survivors plunged directly down the funnel. The troopship went down in less than 20 minutes, turning over as she went. Those who could jumped into the oily water as there was little opportunity to launch the lifeboats, grabbing on to wreckage in a bid to stay afloat. They sang to maintain morale and remain conscious as they awaited rescue. Nearby Allied craft including the destroyer HMS Highlander and trawler HMT Cambridgeshire came to the stricken vessel`s aid and managed to rescue 2,477 persons but tragically the rest of those on board perished. Fearing that news of the incident would have a detrimental effect on morale, the British Government tried to censor any reports but the New York Times, then the British press decided to publish the circumstances the following month but gave the death toll as 1,738 which many now believe was far too low. (Images © Imperial War Museum).

Efforts to raise funds to mark this tragic episode, Britain`s worst ever naval disaster, were eventually successful and this long-awaited memorial now stands on the banks of the River Clyde, in the grounds of the Golden Jubilee Hospital, fittingly the location of the ship`s birthplace. The Titan Crane on the site of John Brown`s, another world famous Clyde shipyard, can be seen in the distance.

The following shot, which I took from a light aircraft on finals for Runway 23, back in late 1976 shows the John Brown and Beardmore shipyards before they were demolished...

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Construction & Development

Construction work on the new development in Abbotsinch Road resumed, initially on a limited basis, on the week beginning 15 June. When I next passed by on the 18th focus seemed to be on upgrading the road system at the south end of the site. On the 30th, activity had switched to the north end so it may be that focus is being alternated to cut down the daily workforce and reduce the risk of virus transfer, particularly when staff use the rest facilities.

These aerial photographs feature in Renfrewshire District Council`s Report on the Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) Project which includes the new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS). The shots were taken well before preparatory work on the site began and the area looks a lot different now.

New bridges over the River Clyde and White Cart Water should be of great benefit to motorists, walkers and cyclists alike.

The above view, taken at the beginning of the month, looks south across the southern part of the development. The Gama Aviation / Scottish Air Ambulance hangars are on the left with the trio of Flybe Dash 8`s on Area R beyond, The area immediately behind the containers used to be football fields which were well used at weekends with various local youth teams playing matches there.

This panorama, taken from the same spot looks in the opposite direction. The COVID-19 testing facility is to the right of the tall Westway building which lies across the White Cart Water in Renfrew. A new bridge will provide direct access from the town to the new manufacturing centre. Abbotsinch Road continues south to Paisley and the British Airways Engineering hanger, is on the right. A small part of a deserted Area Juliet, frequently used for visiting biz jets and light aircraft, can also be seen.

The above slideshow features shots taken around the airport perimeter on 7, 14, 18 and 30th June.

Abbotsinch Road at the entrance to the Gama / Scottish Ambulance hangars, north and south.

As I cycled round the airport early on Thursday 11 June, a team from a fencing company pulled up next to the perimeter fence near the St James Interchange to carry out a repair. A security vehicle was parked on the inside guarding a large gap presumably caused by the driver of a car losing control on the bend.

Rolls-Royce, a key private sector component of the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland, soon to be built at Inchinnan, has announced that it expects to cut 700 jobs at its plant in Renfrewshire after the decision was taken to shed 9,000 jobs worldwide. The figure is around 20% of its workforce. Around 4,000 UK staff had already been placed on furlough.

The losses at the Inchinnan plant will mostly affect people who service aero-engines and Rolls-Royce said it was considering withdrawing this capability from the Renfrewshire site permanently. Safe in their roles for the time being are 550 employees in the manufacturing unit which makes seals and fan blades. The Derby-based firm began the staff reduction process by offering voluntary redundancy to everyone across its UK civil aerospace division. Rolls-Royce is best known for its aero-engines but also makes power systems for aircraft and military ships. In Derby and East Midlands, which holds the majority of its UK workforce, job cuts will be around 1,500.

The company said flying hours for its engines had decreased by 90 per cent in April as airlines around the world temporarily grounded large proportions of their fleets.

Along with other aviation experts, management at Rolls-Royce predicts that the severity of the pandemic will result in a drastically reduced commercial aerospace market. Contracts have fallen steeply with the economic shock continuing to increase.

Rolls-Royce said its commitment to the new Manufacturing institute beside Glasgow Airport remains important and is unaffected by the announcement on job losses.

Just a few days after the Rolls-Royce announcement, Wyman Gordon in Livingston, which makes parts for the aviation and energy sectors, said it had been forced to cut its workforce, blaming a substantial drop in orders from various firms including the engine maker. Unite Scotland reported that 72 of the 187 staff had been issued with redundancy notices. Wyman Gordon was also reviewing the terms of staff remaining at the West Lothian plant. (Image glassdoor.co.uk).

Closer to the airport, although work on the new CALA housing development adjacent to the Teucheen Woods between Inchinnan village and Erskine has been temporarily halted due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the first phase is almost complete and on-site showhomes will be available for inspection once relevant social distancing measures are relaxed, probably sometime next month.

A battle was fought at Renfrew in 1164 between a force of 15,000 men under Somerled, who was camped at Inchinnan and a much smaller army led by King Malcolm, quartered in Renfrew. Somerled's army was attacked and defeated as they crossed the river, and records show that the fiercest fighting took place at Teucheen Wood or Blood's Mire, as it is sometimes called. The Teucheen, a wooded height opposite House of Hill (Northbar House) has a large mound on its top. It is said that ploughing here in years gone revealed pieces of bone and fragments of armour.

This diagram on an information board at the entrance to the new estate only shows Phase One. Many more houses will follow and new paths will access the woods from the development. It is likely that an additional right-of-way will be put in place at some stage to connect the estate with the main A8 Greenock Road. Hopefully a road is not an option. The houses to the north of the site look over fields to the Clyde with Clydebank and the Titan Crane beyond.

Snapped in the Garden in June...

Following a couple of Super Moons last month, I took this view from my front window at 00:15 hrs on 1 June. Due to atmospheric conditions and lack of pollution during the lockdown the lunar surface was defined in even greater detail with the huge craters looking particularly fine.

Even hyperactive squirrels need an occasional power nap...

This year Goldfinch, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Blue Tits, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin and Starling successfully bred in or around the garden but, as is always the case, soon after fledging many of the chicks fall victim to predators including foxes, Sparrowhawks and most voracious of all, the domestic cat. Sadly, one of our two resident Wood Pigeon chicks was later ambushed and killed by one of the local moggies.

House Martins seem to be doing well on the estate and I`ve even spotted a few individual Swifts overhead. Other species making an appearance in the garden this month but not caught on camera were Willow Warbler, plus a striking parent Yellowhammer feeding a hungry chick.

These Squirrels are taking full advantage of the fact that they`re exempt from the government`s social distancing restrictions!

Despite the best efforts of its parents, this recently fledged Blue Tit chick couldn`t get enough grub. It got tired of waiting in-between feeds and jumped into the fat ball holder to continue munching. For a time it looked as though it would struggle to extricate itself, but it successfully clambered out when it saw that the next caterpillar was about to be served.