ST GEORGE'S RAF CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCEBIGGIN HILL
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  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 . 

Lunch to celebrate to celebrate Peter's 99th birthday.

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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. 

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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
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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

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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


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​​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.
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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!" T
hat 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.   
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​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. 
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Do see the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum website for the latest planned talks.  click -  bhmm.org.uk/


International Club for Air Force Officers' Wives - Wednesday March 2nd 2022 

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​Paul Grant ( Chairman FSGC) and Margaret Wilmot (Secretary FSGC), attended a lunch at the RAF Club in Piccadilly as the guests of Mrs. Pauline Garlick, a member of the International Club for Air Force Officers Wives and a long time member of the Friends of St George's Chapel.
​They are seen here sitting in front of one of the many paintings on display.

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Before lunch the two gentlemen pictured here gave a talk about the Dunkirk Small Ships Association and the history of the small ships  and the renovation of one of the small ships,  the 'Breda'.  It was a most interesting and enjoyable talk and it is hoped to invite them to give the same talk at the Chapel this year.

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​They felt very privileged to sit at the table with Lady Wigston,  (in the red jacket) Chairman of the International Wives Club and wife of Air Chief Marshall Sir Mike Wigston.

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​An enjoyable 4 hours was spent with an excellent lunch, the company of interesting and friendly people and a fascinating talk. Margaret and Paul said it was an honour to be there and  were very grateful for Pauline's invitation. ​

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​Coffee and drinks were served prior to our lunch and we were able to walk down the Gallery where the walls on both sides are adorned with Squadron Badges. Several that are in the Chapel were on display.

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The Wooden Cross

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Pictures taken in March 2022

​The wooden cross was lovingly repaired by a volunteer in August 21. A plinth now seals the foot of the cross and new end caps were made. Covering the fixings, are stainless steel watch backs.  Embedded on both sides, is a Battle of Britain coin thus showing both sides of the coin. These give a wonderful finish to the fine workmanship. This restoration will ensure the existence of the cross for many years to come.                                           

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​ The devoted volunteer is hard at work.

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​An example of the workmanship ...

a new end cap fashioned out of mahogany

The Friends of the Chapel are extremely grateful for this wonderful work. 

​The cross was outside St Rafael's Roman Catholic Church (now the Air Training Squadron Headquarters)  as the station closed. The steel inside, indicates that the cross was made by the 1960s.   Do you happen to know when it was first erected??? ​​
 We would like to know.

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 ​​The Chapel Doors and Steps' Handrail
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The Chapel doors and 'furniture'  (ie the handles and locks) have been beautifully painted by a Museum Volunteer, Steve Brenchley.  He has also made the hand rails either side of the steps look like new.  We are very grateful to Steve for giving his time.
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​ August  2021 - The Chapel Clock
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The Chapel clock is on time again! Having not worked for several years, the clock has been repaired and an automatic time adjustment has been installed. The clock will now reset  automatically to the correct time after a power cut.

This repair and installation was carried out by Patrick Sheehan of the HS Walsh and Sons of Churchill Way, Biggin Hill.  The firm supplies tools and equipment to horologists and jewellers. On top of that Patrick Sheehan arranged for the painting of the clock face!  

The time and equipment was given free of charge which was a wonderful surprise when the invoice was requested.  This most generous gift is a tremendous saving for the Friends of St George's Chapel and we are extremely grateful and delighted to have the clock working and looking so smart.

A tribute  in the Chapel ​

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​In memory of the brave young Pilots,
Along side of the 38 airmen and
Nurse who lost their lives in
A bomb shelter direct hit
on the 30th 31st August.
THE worse days of Battle
of Britain at Biggin Hill
God Bless you and thank
you
RON SIMMONS 
Hastings Road, Bromley 
D.O.B 24.8.32

Visit in Memory of Czechoslovak Pilots

​On 8 October 2020, the 80th anniversary of the death of Sergeant Josef František, a  very highly decorated Czechoslovak pilot, the Czech Defence Attaché Colonel Jifi Niedoba and Chief Warrant Office Tomas Kaspar visited places where Czechoslovak aircrew operated in the Royal Air Force in World War 11.  They were given a tour of the Chapel by Margaret Wilmot, Chapel Verger. 

Colonel Niedoba placed a wreath below the Infant of Prague, in memory of the fallen Czechoslovak airmen who died in the war. Four of the many Czechoslovak airman who died, flying in the Royal Air Force  in World War 11, are remembered on the reredos. The wreath will be laid near the Gate Guardians on Remembrance Sunday.
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Colonel Jifi Niedoba and Chief Warrant Office Tomas Kaspar ​
Light Shades Restored  September 2020
​Two of the Chapel light shades, made in the 1950s, which had broken from heat, have been restored by David Wilmot and Paul Grant.  This was a difficult delicate and time consuming task because of the material used in the manufacture.  After many months, they were back in position, in time for the Battle of Britain Service. 
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Chapel Noticeboard 30th May 2020

The main noticeboard had split and was in need of lots of TLC.  It has been  refurbished  by a very good friend of the Friends of the Chapel and is back in situ.  We are very grateful to David Wilmot. 
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  • News
  • WELCOME
    • The Chapel >
      • Chapel Services >
        • Sunday services
        • Past Services >
          • Chapel Dedication Service
          • Friends Service
          • Armed Forces
          • Veterans and Reflections
          • Remembrance 2022
          • Battle of Britain 2022 + 2021
          • Lantern Service
          • VE DAY 2020
          • Christmas
          • Remembrance
    • Contact and location
    • Important information
    • Personal Services
    • Friends' of the Chapel, Membership and Benefits
    • Friends helping the Museum
  • Visitors to the Chapel
  • Events
  • The Gate Guardian Story
    • Gate Guardian archive
  • Remembrance Garden
    • Rem Gdn Archived entries
    • History
  • Queen Elizabeth ll
  • General Archive
  • History
    • Photo Gallery
    • Matters of Interest
  • Father Gerald Flood
  • Non-clickable Page