10th March 2020
The Mayor of Havant, Councillor Diana Patrick, has helped to commemorate a local hero this week, Beatrice ‘Tilly’ Shilling OBE, by unveiling a special plaque at McCarthy Stone’s Retirement Living development, Shilling Place in Purbrook.
The plaque is dedicated to Ms Shilling following the naming of the development in her honour late last year. Originally born in Waterlooville, Ms Shilling first started her career as an apprentice electrical engineer, before taking a degree in Electrical Engineering, and then an MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
Initially working as a research assistant, Ms Shilling was recruited to The Royal Aircraft Establishment where she became the leading specialist in aircraft carburettors. During the Second World War, she invented the ‘RAE Restrictor’, which saved the lives of countless RAF pilots over the course of the War.
Ms Shilling also had a love for motorcycles, and took up motorcycle racing at Brooklands soon after graduating. She became the second woman to gain a Brooklands Gold Star for lapping the track at over 100mph.
Councillor Diana Patrick joined Shilling Place’s House Manager, Gail Close, to officially unveil Ms Shilling’s commemorative plaque on Monday 9th March – the day after her birthday.
Councillor Diana Patrick said: “The legacy left by Ms Shilling for her invention of the RAE restrictor and her contribution to engineering continues to give inspiration today.
“It was a real pleasure to visit Shilling Place and unveil this special plaque in honour of Ms Shilling. I’d like to thank the team at McCarthy Stone for recognising her achievements and giving us the opportunity to remember a real local hero.”
Geoff Bates, Head of Marketing for McCarthy Stone South added: “We are delighted Councillor Diane Patrick was able to help us commemorate such an important person to the local community as Ms Shilling.
“We appreciate that our responsibility is not only to increase the provision of high quality, purpose-built age-exclusive properties, but also to create a positive legacy in the communities in which we build, so we’re really honoured to be a part of the town’s local history.”
Designed for the over 60s, Shilling Place features a communal lounge, which is perfect for socialising with new neighbours. Residents can make the most of beautiful landscaped gardens knowing all the maintenance is taken care of; and many properties also include patios or balconies, so retirees can enjoy the outdoors from their own apartment. A hotel-style guest suite is available for visiting family and friends.
A House Manager takes care of the day-to-day running of Shilling Place, while a secure entry system and 24-hour emergency call system provide added peace-of-mind.
More than nine out of ten customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation for 14 years’ running. McCarthy Stone is the only UK house builder of any size or type to achieve this accolade for 14 consecutive years, which is every year the awards have been run.
To find out more about Shilling Place, please contact McCarthy Stone on 0800 201 4811 or visit www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/shilling-place
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