Events honour Spitfire designer Reginald Mitchell

People have been celebrating the life and legacy of Spitfire designer Reginald Mitchell to mark the 130th anniversary of his birth.

Mitchell was born on 20 May 1895 in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, and moved to Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, shortly afterwards.

Events at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery included speeches from his great-nephew Julian Mitchell as well as trustee of the National Spitfire Project Paul Beaver.

Later in the day, staff at the Reginald Mitchell pub in Hanley organised an event for guests and local armed forces veterans.

The pub had a display of aeroplanes designed by children from the Reginald Mitchell Primary School in Talke, while the bar was stocked with a range of beers featuring names linked to aviation and the city's centenary.

The Spitfire was a single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War Two.

Mr Mitchell said his great-uncle's work was still making a real impact in the local community.

"Celebrating his engineering genius and design creativity is at the heart of our Operation Spitfire for Schools project," he said.

"We're helping students understand what is possible in their futures and highlight examples of local people who have done amazing things."

Steve Watkins, deputy lord mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said the Spitfire designer's work had inspired generations of engineers.

"He [Mitchell] and his team led the world in aircraft design," Watkins said.

"His legacy is encouraging young engineers to take up a career in the industry today."

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