The best artwork to immortalise the floatplane’s visit to Rochester Cathedral has now been unveiled, as the Rochester Bridge Trust has announced the winners of its summer art competition.
The newly restored Short Scion Floatplane G-AEZF was displayed by Rochester Bridge Trust, inside Rochester Cathedral, after more than 12 years of work by Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Ltd (MAPSL). The competition was designed to encourage visitors to pause and take the time to record their visit, with the entries displayed inside the Bridge Chamber at Rochester.
The competition was split into two categories, with Terry Whitbread winning a £50 voucher towards a meal for two on Rochester High Street, and two prizes for under 18s going to Daisy and Jossi, who both took home a selection of Lego, K’nex and Airfix kits.
Russell Cooper, Senior Warden at the Rochester Bridge Trust, announced the winners during an informal presentation on the final day of the Heritage Open Days, a series of events offering people a chance to explore the Trust’s medieval Bridge Chapel and Victorian Bridge Chamber. A total of 857 people visited during the Heritage Open Days.
Russell said: “We’ve really enjoyed displaying the floatplane for all to see, and now the summer is over we’re pleased to have been able to display these works of art that remind us of the event. Thank you to everyone who took part.”
Painstakingly rebuilt by MAPSL with the help of a £40,000 grant from the Trust, the floatplane was made in the Short Brothers Factory that was once located on Rochester Esplanade. It was on display in the cathedral for the whole of August 2025, accompanied by a range of engineering education activities.
For more information visit our Floatplane page.