A documentary film shedding new light on the naval past of Lossiemouth’s RAF base will premiere in the town at the weekend.
The first screening of HMS Fulmar 1946-1972 will take place at St James Church on Saturday – and residents have been encouraged to attend to learn more about its role in the region.
Filmmaker Yvonne Findlay’s father worked at the base as a flight simulator engineer, and she describes the navy’s presence in the town as an “important chapter” in its history.
She spent a year bringing the project together, and combined contemporary footage of reunion events with vintage film of HMS Fulmar.
The hour-long movie was created as a tribute to the veterans who served at Fulmar, and the townspeople who supported them during its decades in Lossiemouth.
Mrs Findlay said: “My dad was a veteran of the Korean War, and he served in the Royal Navy for about 20 years.
“I originally wanted to include some Fulmar material in a documentary about Lossiemouth I made last year, but I realised that it deserved its own film.
“When I started to reminisce on my childhood experiences there, and spoke with people who had served at Fulmar, it became apparent how special a place it was for Lossiemouth.”
Mrs Findlay thanked local contributors who submitted their own archive film to be included in her work – featuring snapshots of the naval base in its heyday.
She added: “This was a different time for the country, and it’s interesting to look at how things were then.”
HMS Fulmar was handed to the Fleet Air Arm in 1946, and used for flight training, before being returned to the RAF in 1972.
Doors will open for the screening at 1.30pm on Saturday, and the film will begin at 2pm.
