To West Country Branch Members of the Britain-Australia Society

The Britain-Australia Society West Country Branch – Admiral Arthur Phillip Birthday Commemoration, Friday October 9th, 2026

I am pleased to invite you to the 2026 West Country Branch, Britain-Australia Society, Admiral Arthur Phillip Birthday service at St Nicholas Church followed by a reception and lunch at the Bath & County Club, Bath on Friday October 9th, 2026.

This year marks the 239th year since the departure of the first fleet, and the founding of modern Australia by the then Captain Phillip, who became the first Governor of what was the colony of New South Wales, and later became the country of Australia. Phillip returned to England to become full Admiral, and to live at Bath, where he died in 1814, and was buried at St Nicholas, Bathampton.

The branch is again proud to host a memorial church service and lunch to commemorate this great achievement and the life of this remarkable man.

The beautiful St Nicholas Church holds Phillip´s grave and memorial stone, an information section on Phillip and the historic journey of the First Fleet and his role in establishing the colony in Australia, and the wonderful Australia Chapel built around 50 years ago to commemorate Phillip’s Australian achievements. A highlight of this decades-old, historic Church Service will be the attendance of Bathampton School students, who will listen alongside the congregation to a short presentation specially tailored for them about this famous man’s life.

After the church service we will move to the nearby city of Bath for a reception hosted by the Mayor of Bath, speeches and a two course lunch including coffee & chocolates all served with Australian wines.

Phillip enjoyed his retirement in the beautiful city of Bath, and while in Bath you may take the opportunity to visit the Admiral Phillip Memorial Armillary Sphere gifted by the BAS and now located in the Sydney Gardens.

After Lunch Speech: West Country young man Leslie MacDonald’s pioneering role in Australian Aviation.

This year we have invited a representative from the Bristol Aerospace Museum to talk about the extraordinary story of a young West Country man, who had a formative role in the birth of aviation in Australia helping to lay the foundations for the creation of the Royal Australian Airforce. (RAAF).

MacDonald was only 20 years old when he travelled to Australia as an engineer and pilot for the Bristol based British & Colonial Aeroplane Company’s Australian tour and flight demonstrations in 1910–11. The tour showcased two Bristol Box Kites they assembled and flew in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. Macdonald not only flew a photojournalist for the first arial photography in Australia, but also flew Brigadier-General Joseph Gordon, then Chief of the Australian General Staff over the City of Sydney and Victoria Barracks. He taught the first Australian Pilot, William Hart to fly and sold him one of the Bristol Box Kites. When in 1912 the Australian Armed forces created the Central Flying School, among its first planes, and the first plane to fly, was one of 2 Bristol Box Kites.

MacDonald was tragical killed in a flying accident when he returned to England in 1912. In July this year a plaque was unveiled in Bristol to commemorate his life and achievements.

Invited guests to this years’ service and lunch include The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Bath, The High Commissioner of Australia, and the Chairman of the Britain Australian Society Nationally.

The day will start with tea and coffee at the St Nicholas church hall, Bathampton at 10.30 am and followed by the 11.00 am commemorative church service. Guests will then travel to the Bath & County Club for a reception with the Mayor of Bath starting at 12.15pm followed by Lunch and speeches. The day will finish around 3.00pm.

Please call me, or email if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you at Bathampton.

Keith Newton
Chairman, West Country Branch, Britain-Australia Society
07837 972983