Comment

Bernard Basevi's concert party around 1936-9.

SECOND World War navigator Bernard Athelstan Basevi will be immortalised in Malmes bury next week when a street is named after him.

Sgt Basevi, who enjoyed doing magic tricks, was an active fundraiser for the town's outdoor pool.

The pool was much loved and there was a huge outcry when it closed in 2003.

Now the town branch of the Royal British Legion is to pay a lasting tribute to Sgt Basevi by naming a street after him.

Basevi Close will form part of the new development on the site of old open-air pool and will be officially named on February 24.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the naming ceremony.

The airman's brother Alan, his former fiancée Jean Bolton (nee Isles) and friends will join the British Legion to pay tribute.

Branch president Derek Tilney said: "Bernard raised the money because he wanted a swimming pool in Malmesbury.

"A huge number of people loved that pool and people have now moved into the homes on its site.

"Like so many of these poor lads lost at sea he has no grave so this will be a lasting tribute.

"Although the pool was past its sell-by date it meant a lot to the town and we wanted to mark the young man who inspired it."

Bernard Athelstan Basevi was the eldest of three sons of Elsie and Edgar Basevi who had a photographic studio in the High Street in Malmesbury.

He was well known in the town for his performances as an amateur magician under the name of Athelstano.

He performed Houdini style escape acts and magic tricks after jumping into the River Avon, tied in chains.

He served with the RAF Volunteer Reserve and was returning from bombing Aachen in Germany when his plane was shot down over the North Sea on December 10, 1941.

The four crew members managed to get into an open dinghy which was less than four feet diameter.

Navigator Sgt Basevi and Pilot Officer Derek Jacobs died from exposure and were buried at sea.

The pilot Tony Parsons and George Wiscombe survived and were picked up by a German convoy after spending 104 hours in the dinghy.

4:10pm Thursday 14th February 2008

Print

Email this

Comment