Thursday 6th May 2021.
Mr Peter Lemon a Friend of St George's Chapel and 100 years young, was interviewed by BBC South East News on Thursday 6th May. Peter flew 50 mission as a Wireless Operator /Air Gunner and the BBC asked specifically to speak with him. Unfortunately few receive that Regional News which showed Peter in the Chapel and some of the letters on display in the Museum. Peter spoke about how important letters were to him and to all in the forces during the war. No other form of communication was possible then and letters were treasured - there weren't computers, mobile phones, or any instant form of electronic communication for the troops. A phone in a family home was rare and when possible people used a red GPO telephone box in the street .
Mr Peter Lemon a Friend of St George's Chapel and 100 years young, was interviewed by BBC South East News on Thursday 6th May. Peter flew 50 mission as a Wireless Operator /Air Gunner and the BBC asked specifically to speak with him. Unfortunately few receive that Regional News which showed Peter in the Chapel and some of the letters on display in the Museum. Peter spoke about how important letters were to him and to all in the forces during the war. No other form of communication was possible then and letters were treasured - there weren't computers, mobile phones, or any instant form of electronic communication for the troops. A phone in a family home was rare and when possible people used a red GPO telephone box in the street .
Lunch to celebrate to celebrate Peter's 99th birthday.
A lunch, attended by members of the congregation, was held in honour of Peter’s 99th birthday, at Westerham Golf Club on Sunday 19th January 2020.
Peter Lemon joined the Royal Air Force on 12th April 1941 aged 20 and left as a Warrant Officer when ‘demobbed’ (demobilised), in April 1946 after the end of World War II.He completed training in wireless mechanics, radar, wireless operating and gunnery.
Eventually, he was sent to an Operational Training Unit at RAF Silloth in Cumbria. He became a WOP AG, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) and a crew member of a Vickers Wellington which carried 2 Pilots, a Navigator and 3 WOP AGs. He joined No. VIII Squadron and flew a total of 50 missions from Silloth in Cumbria and from the base in Aden (now Yemen). Missions were escorting single ships and anti- submarine patrols.
No. VIII Squadron, whose motto is ‘Uspian et Passim’ (Everywhere Unbounded) is still operational today, flying the Boeing E-3D Sentry (AWAcs) at RAF Waddington.
Peter Lemon joined the Royal Air Force on 12th April 1941 aged 20 and left as a Warrant Officer when ‘demobbed’ (demobilised), in April 1946 after the end of World War II.He completed training in wireless mechanics, radar, wireless operating and gunnery.
Eventually, he was sent to an Operational Training Unit at RAF Silloth in Cumbria. He became a WOP AG, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) and a crew member of a Vickers Wellington which carried 2 Pilots, a Navigator and 3 WOP AGs. He joined No. VIII Squadron and flew a total of 50 missions from Silloth in Cumbria and from the base in Aden (now Yemen). Missions were escorting single ships and anti- submarine patrols.
No. VIII Squadron, whose motto is ‘Uspian et Passim’ (Everywhere Unbounded) is still operational today, flying the Boeing E-3D Sentry (AWAcs) at RAF Waddington.
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The youngest man present, was a very keen military enthusiast, 8 year old Rodney Cairns , who enjoyed his chat with Peter.
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Summer of 2019, the congregation and Friends enjoyed lunch at the West Kent Golf Club. On this occasion, two young members of the congregation, Joan and Marinette celebrated their 90th birthdays.
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Visit to Capel-le-Ferne and Hawkinge Museum
Friends First Outing.
On Tuesday September 25th a group of 18 Friends and their friends took a coach trip to Capel - le-Ferne and Hawkinge in Kent. We left Biggin Hill at 9.30 with our friendly coach driver supplying us with peppermints to suck on our journey.
The weather was kind to us, warm and sunny all day. The first stop was at the Kent Battle of Britain Memorial, at Capel le Fern.
The sky was clear so the coastline of France was easily seen; it must have been a terrifying experience to see the German aircraft approaching across the 26 mile stretch of water.
Capel-le-Ferne
On Tuesday September 25th a group of 18 Friends and their friends took a coach trip to Capel - le-Ferne and Hawkinge in Kent. We left Biggin Hill at 9.30 with our friendly coach driver supplying us with peppermints to suck on our journey.
The weather was kind to us, warm and sunny all day. The first stop was at the Kent Battle of Britain Memorial, at Capel le Fern.
The sky was clear so the coastline of France was easily seen; it must have been a terrifying experience to see the German aircraft approaching across the 26 mile stretch of water.
Capel-le-Ferne
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All was quiet and peaceful, a very emotive place; we spent an hour and a half reading the names on the memorial wall, having tea in the cafe and recalling our own personal memories of family losses in WWll.
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The view across to France
Then it was back to the coach to take us to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum site about 5 miles away, in Hawkinge. This was a very different experience; two large display areas and three smaller ones, all full of recovered pieces of aircraft, vehicles used during the war, letters from airmen to their families, and much more all accompanied by a huge amount of information to read and digest.
We had our lunch here, sitting in the sunshine, outside the cafe and listening to stories from others about their families and WWll. We left for Biggin Hill with everyone saying how much they had enjoyed the day, and arrived back in the car park at the back of the library at 5o’clock. As all disembarked, with a well deserved thank you to our driver, all were asking when is our next trip and where to?!
A fascinating place with so much there that it undoubtedly deserves another visit, just to go back to all that you didn’t get time to read about.
A resounding success for our first social event.
We had our lunch here, sitting in the sunshine, outside the cafe and listening to stories from others about their families and WWll. We left for Biggin Hill with everyone saying how much they had enjoyed the day, and arrived back in the car park at the back of the library at 5o’clock. As all disembarked, with a well deserved thank you to our driver, all were asking when is our next trip and where to?!
A fascinating place with so much there that it undoubtedly deserves another visit, just to go back to all that you didn’t get time to read about.
A resounding success for our first social event.
A Charity Event of an Evening of Entertainment on 30th November 2018, organised by the Friends Committee was a very pleasant and enjoyable evening. The hall in Charles Darwin school was most appropriate and carefully placed props and lighting gave the feeling of being in a large drawing room of a country house where friends were entertaining us. Poetry, prose, classical songs, pop, country and western were on the menu and we were all able and encouraged to join in with some well known songs.
The compere for the evening announced that the performers had not been able to practice before hand together, and commented saying , " it is said, it will be alright on the night... well this is the night and it may not be alright!" That definitely relaxed the performers, who were all giving their time freely. It broke the ice and we had fun and laughter, and it was ALRIGHT!
A very beautiful flowing display of poppies and 'Tommy' standing at the side was a constant reminder of the lives taken and the Armistice 100 years ago.
Together with the lunch held in the Parkwood Golf Clubhouse on Remembrance Sunday, £400 was raised for the Royal Air Forces Association Wings Appeal.
The compere for the evening announced that the performers had not been able to practice before hand together, and commented saying , " it is said, it will be alright on the night... well this is the night and it may not be alright!" That definitely relaxed the performers, who were all giving their time freely. It broke the ice and we had fun and laughter, and it was ALRIGHT!
A very beautiful flowing display of poppies and 'Tommy' standing at the side was a constant reminder of the lives taken and the Armistice 100 years ago.
Together with the lunch held in the Parkwood Golf Clubhouse on Remembrance Sunday, £400 was raised for the Royal Air Forces Association Wings Appeal.
The Chapel is being used for talks on the history of the RAF. World Wars 1 and 11, the history of the Chapel and the Garden . Talks on the RAF and the Chapel are happening soon ( July and August 2019) with Bob Ogley and Margaret Wilmot.
Do see the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum website for the latest planned talks. click - bhmm.org.uk/
