A piece of Lakeland Elterwater Green natural stone from Cumbria-based Burlington and inscribed at the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge has been used to create a roundel memorial to commemorate the testing of the world\'s first hovercraft that took place 50 years ago in Suffolk. Marking the achievement of the Hovercraft\'s inventor, the late Sir Christopher Cockerell CBE FRS, the roundel has been fittingly sited within the Pergola Lawn of Suffolk\'s Somerleyton Hall, where some of the earliest tests of the first amphibious hovercraft prototype took place.

Originating from an idea of ARIBA consultant architect James Airy, the commission to create the roundel was given to the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop that is world famous for carving fine lettering. The roundel was a gift of Sally and Douglas Rushmer (Douglas was the creator of many of the experimental parts of the embryonic hovercraft and managing director of the Ripplecraft Boatyard where the hovercraft story began), and was officially unveiled by Sir Christopher\'s daughter, Frances Cockerell.

Lida Lopez Cardozo Kindersley\'s inspiration for the roundel design emanated from original cine film footage showing the first testing of the Hovercraft prototype in 1956. Lida says: "The film showed the 2ft 6in hovercraft model circling round and round a central point. It was this that inspired me to create a circular stone, the design of which uses concentric rings of carved lettering cut by hand that gradually reduce in size."