USAF Kirknewton Benches in Princess Street Gardens

 

In 1962 the USAF Officers and Airmen at RAF Station Kirknewton presented a bench and plaque to the Citizens of Edinburgh in appreciation of their hospitality.  The location of the bench was in the Princess Street Gardens.

 

When the base closed in 1966 the Citizens of Edinburgh placed a second plaque and bench in Princess Street Gardens in appreciation of the USAF at RAF Station Kirknewton from 1952-1966.

 

Over the years the placement of benches varied and the condition of the benches deteriorated. 

 

In October 2015 one of our members, Robert (Bob) Baker, was in Edinburgh .  He checked on the benches and one was missing and the other was in extremely bad condition.  He was concerned and contacted the American Consulate.  Eventually he was directed to Sarah Fraser in the Edinburgh Parks Department.  She replied that one bench was not repairable and the other bench needed extensive refurbishment.  The Parks Department said they would refurbish that bench and gave us pricing for a new bench and plaque. 

 

Several alumni expressed a desire to contribute money, so Fred Crawford organized a campaign on our spokt.com website to raise $5,000 for a new bench and a new updated plaque.  The goal was reached in record time.  We would fund the new bench and plaque and the Parks Department would refurbish the repairable bench with new reproduction plaques of the two original benches.  They would salvage the two original plaques and send them to Bob, which they did. 

 

The Kirknewton Alumni agreed on wording for the new plaque that would be in appreciation of the people of Edinburgh.  Everything came together and the benches were dedicated in April 2016. 

 

Baker went to Edinburgh the end of November 2019.  He delivered the two salvaged original plaques to the Kirknewton Inn in Kirknewton for display.  Pictures of the benches and plaques follow.

Below—The new bench with a new plaque

Funded by the Kirknewton Alumni

Below—The refurbished original bench with replica plaques of the two original benches

The work was done by the Edinburgh Parks Department

Below—The refurbished bench and the new replacement bench in 2016

They flank the WWI Scottish-American Memorial with Princess Street in the background

Below - The refurbished  bench with reproduction plaques of the two original benches

Below—The salvaged plaque from the first original bench

Soon to be on display in the Kirknewton Inn, Kirknewton, Scotland

Below—The salvaged plaque from the second original bench

Soon to be on display in the Kirknewton Inn, Kirknewton, Scotland

Below - The new bench and new plaque

Funded by the Kirknewton Alumni

Below-October 2015- Robert (Bob) Baker sitting on the remaining original Kirknewton bench

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Below -The proprietors, Lawrence Dick and Ann of the Kirknewton Inn, Kirknewton, Scotland holding the two original bench plaques and the matted photo of the RAFK badge donated by Helen Oleson.  Richard (Bob) and Isi Baker delivered them personally on December 18, 2019.  The matted picture is still in the protective cover.   Pictures will be posted later when the items are displayed on a wall of the Kirknewton Inn