The Stainforth Trophy

"In the early 1970s, Moxon, who had always looked upon his older brother, George, the flying hero of The Schneider Trophy days, as his peer model, was informed by RAF Strike Command that they were considering instituting something called The Stainforth Trophy ... "

Moxon and Fiona Stainforth continued to live on in their large ground-floor flat at 21 Aldridge Road, Ferndown, until the last decade of the century. Their large sitting room windows and terrace overlooked one of the Golf Club Fairways, so when they could no longer play because of old age and arthritis, they watched on satellite television whenever the professional championships were being played on the 'world circuit'.

In the early Nineteen-seventies, Moxon, who had always looked upon his older brother, George, the flying hero of The Schneider Trophy days of 1929 and '31, as his peer model, was informed by RAF Strike Command that they were considering instituting something called The Stainforth Trophy. This was to be their most prestigious trophy, awarded annually to the winning station of Strike Command for outstanding performance during the previous year. The trophy itself, designed by the artist, Robin Beresford depicting in silver three supersonic aircraft and spiralling vapour trails soaring into the stratosphere, had been donated anonymously in George's memory with additional help and contributions from his old No. 89 Night Fighter Squadron and the Stainforth family. Moxon and Fiona were invited each year to attend the Trophy's presentation by the Air Officer Commanding Strike Command, an Air Chief Marshal, to the winning station, sometimes involving a flight in the Air Chief Marshal's jet to Northern Ireland, Germany or elsewhere. The first ceremony took place in 1974, and continues beyond the turn of the century. When Moxon reached the age of eighty-five in 1988, he suggested to the RAF that his nephew, Peter, the son of his late eldest brother, Archie, should take over the honour of representing the family at the presentation ceremonies, and to this Strike Command graciously agreed. So now Peter and Dorothy carry the flag for the family on into the future, until the time comes to hand over.

Moxon Stainforth has the distinction of having been the longest living male member of the family, dying just past his 94th birthday on the 29th July 1997. Fiona, his lovely wife of fifty four years, lived on in Ferndown for nearly another four more years, and died in a Nursing Home on the 17th March 2001, greatly mourned by all sides of her family.

Not Found Wanting, p.511

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