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Musical tribute to bomber squadron

From the Cotswold Journal, first published Thursday 10th Jul 2008.

A SHIPSTON woman has composed a piece of music in honour of her late husband and those he served with during the Second World War and she is calling for their efforts to be recognised with a medal.

Ruth Guthrie, aged 84, saw her composition 550 Squadron: The Lancasters performed in public for the first time as the finale to Shipston Proms music festival.

The music, dedicated to the memory of her husband Flight Sergeant Laurence Guthrie and other Royal Air Force Bomber Command veterans, was performed by Shipston Town Band and Avonbank Band at Shipston's Townsend Hall.

Local musician Charlie Cox arranged the music for brass band.

Mrs Guthrie said: "I thought it was very rewarding to see such enthusiasm, especially with younger people at the concert.

"My husband would be staggered. He was a man who always thought there was no point in doing something unless you make money on it.

"But I get so much pleasure out of music and I used to tell him so."

Her husband, known as Larry, died three years ago.

Mrs Guthrie supports a call for a special campaign medal for Bomber Command veterans to honour the 30,000 pilots and aircrew - and the larger number of ground crew - still alive. It could also go to the next of kin of those killed in action and those who have died since.

Mrs Guthrie said: "I know those chaps were so disillusioned to not be recognised. A lot of them have died without recognition.

"I would like to see bomber command get their Second World War medals."

Mrs Guthrie has composed music for more than 50 years, with much of it recorded during the 1950s and 1960s. She wrote the big band hit Lazy Cowboy while working with Ian Grant, Dorothy Dodd and other leading musicians and lyricists.

Bomber Command flew 366,514 sorties, during which 55,573 pilots and crew died.

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