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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 1026

A group of three awarded to Flying Officer A. Bain, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a man with a passion for football and who made a valuable contribution to the children of the north-east

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Fg. Off. A. Bain. R.A.F.V.R.), mounted court-style, minor edge bruise to last, good very fine (3)

Archibald 'Archie' Bain was born on 1 April 1916 at Perth, Scotland, and was educated at Newcastle University. He served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War and was awarded his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate, No. 21511, on 31 July 1946. Two years later he joined the Bren Manufacturing Company at Gateshead and worked his way up from production manager to Director of the Board in 1961. Bought out by the Vickers-owned Crabtree Group, the former Bren Works became at that time Britain's largest manufacturer of printing machinery.
Aside from this, Bain also served as Chairman of the Children's International Summer Villages in the north-east of England. His sudden death at the age of 51 years proved a shock to many family, friends and colleagues, and in 1967 the management at the Bren Works donated an inter-department football cup, named the 'Archie Bain Memorial Trophy' in his memory. In the first year of competition the "Apprentices A Eleven" beat a combined "Machine Shops - Fitting Shops Eleven" by 3 goals to 1. Mrs Valerie Bain, widow of the deceased noted, 'it gave her and her family a great deal of satisfaction to think that her husband was being remembered in this way'. Sold with extensive documentation, including original Aviator's Certificate and contemporary newspaper cuttings.


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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£60