'Great example of community spirit': Leeds aviation pioneer’s plaque replaced more than a year after vandalism
The memorial plaque was “defaced” in early 2025
A plaque commemorating a Leeds daredevil pilot and aviation pioneer has been replaced more than a year after it was vandalised - thanks to the generosity of a local business.
The plaque honouring William Rowland Ding (1885-1917) was found “defaced” by a resident in early 2025, having been unveiled on May 12, 2017 - 100 years to the day after Ding’s tragic death.
Ding was a test pilot at the Leeds-based Blackburn Aeroplane Company who logged 35,000 miles in the air in just three years.
He flew many of his flights from Soldiers’ Field in Roundhay and was known for having flown more aircraft than any other pilot at the time.
He died in May 1917 when one of his routine test flights went wrong, causing him to crash his biplane in a field off Oakwood Grange Lane in Oakwood.
His biplane burst into flames, killing the 31-year-old in front of around 1,000 horrified spectators.
To commemorate the centenary of his death, the pilot’s family, alongside the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, unveiled a memorial plaque at the crash site in 2017.
However, the memorial stone has been without its plaque for more than a year after it was found vandalised in March 2025.
The act caused outrage among local councillors and Leeds Civic Trust, which called Ding a “pioneer at the dawn of aviation”.
Concerned residents have now quietly installed a new plaque, donated by Leeds Engraving on York Road.
The new plaque, a copy of the original from 2017, is located in the ginnel between Oakwood Grange Lane and North Lane, mounted on the original stone.
Roundhay councillor Jordan Bowen said the replacement plaque is “fantastic news and a really positive outcome for everyone who cared about preserving this important piece of local history”.
He said: “When the original plaque disappeared, I was keen to see a replacement installed, but I also wanted to ensure any restoration was carried out respectfully and, where possible, with the involvement of William Rowland Ding's family.
“Unfortunately, it proved difficult to make contact with relatives, and councillors had been exploring how we might help support a replacement.
“It is therefore wonderful to learn that a local resident has taken the initiative and that Leeds Engraving Services generously donated the new plaque. It's a great example of community spirit in action.
“I'm delighted that this memorial has been restored and that the legacy of William Rowland Ding can continue to be remembered by both residents and visitors for years to come.”