A MILE-long road in Taunton was renamed on Thursday June 14 in 2018, honouring a man from the town who founded the Royal Air Force.

The £21 million Northern Inner Distributor Road, opened in 2017 between Staplegrove Road and Priory Way, and was renamed Trenchard Way at ceremony six years ago this month.

It is a lasting memorial to Hugh Montague Trenchard, the 1st Viscount Trenchard, the first Chief of the Air Staff when the RAF was formed in 1918. He was born at Haines Hill in 1873, baptised at St George’s Church, Wilton, and spent his childhood at Courtlands, Norton Fitzwarren.

The 3rd Viscount Trenchard was the guest of honour for the renaming and unveiled a memorial to his grandfather. He was joined by local dignitaries and representatives from the RAF, Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Legion, other members of the Armed Forces community and with cadets from 41F (Taunton and District) Squadron Devon and Somerset Wing ATC.

Somerset County Council leader Cllr David Fothergill said at the time: “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming Lord Trenchard to Somerset to rename this key road in his grandfather’s honour.

“This will raise the profile of the Trenchard name and provide a permanent reminder for future generations of our link to the RAF. This memorial is long overdue but I’m pleased we’ve been able to put this right in the RAF’s centenary year.”

The renaming ceremony took place directly opposite Station Approach – Trenchard Way was closed between Station Approach and Chip Lane for the event. Mr Mayberry gave a talk, ‘In Praise of Lord Trenchard: Son of Somerset, Father of the RAF’ at the Museum of Somerset later that day. He outlined how Lord Trenchard’s father and grandfather were solicitors in Hammet Street, but bankruptcy brought the family low, and left the young Trenchard determined to make a name for himself.