HISTORY buffs are rejoicing after an appeal to raise £700 to honour a pair of Swindon brothers with plaques outside a town centre pub was reached this week.

Noel Beauchamp, of Swindon Heritage, is one of the people behind the project and said yesterday it was "absolutely fantastic” that Harold and Norman Starr will have a permanent tribute to their heroism outside the home they were born and grew up in.

The Starrs left Swindon to become fighter pilots during the Second World War and now almost 70 years after they died two plaques will be installed in September outside their former home, which was the Central Hotel in Regent Street, and is now The Savoy pub, owned by Wetherspoons.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic,” said Noel. “We reached the target mainly thanks to two family members – Norman’s great-nephew squadron leader Peter Starr Mills and their great niece Sue Giles – stepping in, who think the idea is great."

Harold was born in 1914 and by 1940 he became a squadron leader with the Royal Air Force. But his life was cut short when he was gunned to death age 25 by a Messerschmitt in the skies above Kent at the height of the Battle of Britain, on August 31, 1940.

Harold’s younger brother, Norman, a wing commander, died age 27 after the plane he was flying in was shot down over Dunkirk in 1945. He was returning home to attend his wedding to his sweetheart, which would have taken place the next day.

Noel, who is hoping the unveiling will be on September 8, to commemorate Harold's birthday, added: “We are working on the wording for the plaques and passing instructions for it to be cast in aluminium and set up ready for the afternoon when the two family members will unveil it.

“Swindon Heritage is already planning the next set of plaques but we are keeping it under wraps who it will be. We would also like members of the public to put forward suggestions.”

Ideas can be sent to editor@swindonheritage.com