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Battle of Britain Fighter Association Memorial Service, September 2010

On 18 September 2010, the Battle of Britain Fighter Association held their annual (though not held in 2009 due to a Mayor of London Event) Memorial Service from 1000 to 1015 at the Battle of Britain Monument on the Victoria Embankment, London. It was a sunny day with a beautiful blue sky. The Service opened with a Corporal trumpeter from the Central Band of the RAF sounding the Last Post, this was followed by a two minute silence and Reveille. The Service was conducted by the Chaplain-in-Chief (RAF), The Venerable Ray Pentland QHC BA DPS MTh RAF. Following prayers, The Lord's Prayer said by all, the Service concluded with the presentation of the wreath, inscribed "In Memory of the Few", by the Chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, Wing Commander Robert Foster.

The following Battle of Britain aircrew were present:
Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns, 235 Squadron, Blenheims.
Wing Commander Robert William Foster, DFC, AE, 605 Squadron, Hurricanes.
Group Captain John Rushton Gard'ner, 141 Squadron, Defiants.
Squadron Leader Thomas Clifford Iveson, DFC, AE, 616 Squadron, Spitfires.
Flight Lieutenant Keith Ashley Lawrence, DFC, 603 (or 234) Squadron, Spitfires.
Wing Commander Thomas Francis Neil, DFC and Bar, AFC, 249 Squadron, Hurricanes.
Squadron Leader Tony Garforth Pickering, 501 Squadron, Hurricanes.
Squadron Leader Nigel Rose, 602 Squadron, Spitfires.
Flight Lieutenant William Louis Buchanan Walker, 616 Squadron, Spitfires.
Flying Officer Kenneth Astill Wilkinson, 616 Squadron, Spitfires.

The following Battle of Britain aircrew may have been present:
Wing Commander Terence Michael Kane, 234 Squadron, Spitfires.
Squadron Leader Tony Garforth Pickering, 501 Squadron, Hurricanes.
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum, DFC, 92 Squadron, Spitfires.

As will be seen these included two Hurricane pilots, Tom Neil and Bob Foster.

The above lefthand photo shows Robert Foster. The above righthand photo shows The Trumpeter with the Chaplain of the RAF the Rev Ray Pentland.

The above lefthand photo shows Tom Iveson. The above righthand photo shows from left Tom Neil, Bob Foster and Ken Wilkinson.

The above lefthand photo shows Tom Neil. The above righthand photo shows the wreath from the Chairman and Members of the Battle of Britain Fighter association with the tribute "In Memory of the Few".

The above photo is a general view from the monument of those attending the ceremony.

Tim Hammond, September 2010

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Four Hurricanes at North Weald

Left to right, the Shuttleworth Trust Hurricane serial Z7015, the Peter Teichman Hurricane, painted as BE505, the Peter Vacher Hurricane serial R4118 and the Historic Aircraft Collection Hurricane, painted as Z5140.

On Sunday 25th October North Weald airfield played host to a 'Hurricane Event' in support of the Sir Sydney Camm Commemorative Society. Lined up outside The Squadron for the well attended event were four of the UK's airworthy Hurricanes - left to right, the Shuttleworth Trust Hurricane serial Z7015, the Peter Teichman Hurricane, painted as BE505, the Peter Vacher Hurricane R4118 and the Historic Aircraft Collection Hurricane, painted as Z5140. Fifteen former wartime pilots who had flown Hurricanes were on hand to sign prints and books as CCB Aviation launched a new Hurricane print by Steve Teasdale.

Also available for close-up inspection were a Harvard, a Seafire, a Kittyhawk and a Mustang.

By Geoff Rayner

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Visit to Hawker Restorations

Left to right: Tim Hammond, Geoff Rayner, Richard Edgeler, Andrew Norris, Tony Ditheridge, Lloyd Ward, Trevor Williams, Norman DeVeill and Martin Goodman.

This was another day out at Hawker Restorations on 17th July 2009, courtesy of our President and host, Mr. Tony Ditheridge. An increased number of Camm Followers attended and enjoyed a fascinating visit talking in general and inspecting the two Hurricanes currently in build. Many questions were asked and many interesting answers given.

By Tim Hammond

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Battle of Britain Fighter Association Memorial Service, September 2008

On 20 September 2008, the Battle of Britain Fighter Association held a Memorial Service from 1355 to 1415 at the Battle of Britain Monument on the Victoria Embankment, London. This was attended by the following Battle of Britain aircrew:
Flight Lieutenant, Owen Burns, 235 Squadron, Blenheims
Flight Lieutenant, Wallace Cunningham, DFC, 19 Squadron, Spitfires
Wing Commander, Robert William Foster, DFC, AE, 605 Squadron, Hurricanes
Flight Lieutenant, Albert Edward Gregory, DFC, AE, 219 Squadron, Blenheims
Mr, John Keatings, 219 Squadron, Blenheims
Mr, Keith Ashley Lawrence, DFC, 234 Squadron,Spitfires
Wing Commander,Thomas Francis Neil, DFC, AFC, 249 Squadron, Hurricanes
Flight Lieutenant, Louis Buchanan Walker, 616 Squadron, Spitfires
Squadron Leader,Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum, DFC, 92 Squadron, Spitfires
Flying Officer, Kenneth Astill Wilkinson, 616 Squadron, Spitfires

As will be seen these included two of our patrons, Tom Neil and Bob Foster who lead the ceremony.

The photos below, clockwise from lower left, shows 1) a general view following the ceremony, 2) Tom Neill, 3) Bob Foster and 4) the trumpeter from the Central Band of the RAF who played the last Post and Reveille.

By Tim Hammond

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Visit to Hawker Restorations, July 2007

Visit to Hawker Restorations

Left to right: Geoff Rayner, Trevor Williams, Richard Edgeler, Tony Ditheridge, and Martin Goodman.

This was a day out at Hawker Restorations on 13th July 2007, courtesy of our President and host, Mr. Tony Ditheridge. It was the official launch of "Camm Followers".

By Trevor Williams, July 2007

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