ST GEORGE'S RAF CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCE BIGGIN HILL
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BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY, SUNDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2024

    It was a beautiful sunny day, perhaps similar to that eventful day 84 years ago. The service was led by Reverend Alison Newman, Vicar of St Mark's Parish Church and  Chaplain to the Chapel and 2427 Biggin Hill Squadron, Air Training Corps. Mr Mark Newman,  a Lay Minister of the Church of England, was the preacher.  The Chapel was full. Many Veterans attended including  Peter Lemon 103, Anne Galley and Harry Winters, both centenarians.  In the congregation were the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor David and Mrs Anne-Marie Jefferys, who are, incidentally, Lay Ministers and take services in the Chapel.  Mr Eric Johnstone, was our organist and Miss Vicky Mace, the bugler, provided the music. Six flags. including St George's and the Air Training Corps banner  were paraded.
    Licenced Lay Reader, Mr Mark Newman gave an excellent sermon, making the Congregation consider the possible truth that God does hear prayers and helps those who call on him.  Seven dates in the second world war were mentioned when King George Vl th called the nation to prayer and the nation responded.  The churches were full and unexpected successes happened to our Forces fighting the Luftwaffe and the German Army.
    After the service , the Mayoral Party, Veterans and friends enjoyed a lunch in the Museum cafe, created and served by  Dominic, his wife Nicki, Lisa, Lewie, Katie and Jack.  Katie and Jack used to work at the Museum and it was a pleasure to see them again.
​ Our thanks to Dominic and his team (everyone  gave their time voluntarily) for an excellent meal served efficiently . 

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Standard Bearers
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Reverend Alison Newman
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Preacher Mark Newman
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Air Commodore John Bell reciting 
Winston Churchill's words
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Mark Newman, Preacher and Crucifer leading the procession out.

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Procession of
​Ministers and Flag Bearers led by Mark Newman
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Mayor  David Jefferys
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Margaret Wilmot reading
​'Echos of 1940'
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 Vicky Mace sounding
The Last Post
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The Mayoral Party departing,
​led by PeterDunn
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Presentation of the flags to
​Reverend Alison Newman 
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Cadet Sergeant Amelia Nevard
of 2427 Sqn Biggin Hill ATC 
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The Royal Salute to King Charles lll
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The Flag of St George and England paraded by Sandra Carpenter leading out the flag bearers.
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Mayoral Party, Ministers, ATC Drum party, Veterans and VIPs.

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Mayor and Mayoress greeting people as they leave
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Kim Botting, Chairman of the Royal British Legion Orpington greeting Ann Galley and Peter Lemon
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              ATC Drum Party and Mayoress Ann-Marie Jefferys
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​Pat Cassins

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L - Mayoress Ann-Marie, Peter Dunn Mayoral Assistant and Mayor David Jefferys. R -, Mark Newman, Simon Stanford-Tuck.
If you would like to read the Order of Service
​click  on the link below
bob_15_sep_2024_.pdf
File Size: 345 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Photos curtesy of P Bisset, D Evans , P Garlick, C Nevard, J Oliver .
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Flt Lt Wesley Pollard VR(T), Flag Bearers and Veterans
At the front -Harry Winters, Ann Galley, PeterLemon.
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Barbara Newman and friends
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Katie Edwards assisting Veteran Ann Galley
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Mayor and Mayoress with Mark Newman
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Veterans Wg Cdr John Lambert and Sqn Ldr John Hext 
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Simon Stanford-Tuck, John Bell, ​Mayor David Jefferys
Battle of Britain Sunday  17 September 2023



​        A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving was held on Battle of Britain Sunday
18th September, remembering the crucial battle  and the lives lost, but also remembering our much loved late Sovereign Queen Elisabeth.  Because of the period of mourning some dignitaries, including the mayor were not able to attend.  The Air Training Corps was not allowed to parade their banner.
        On this bright Sunday morning, Reverend Alison Newman led the service and the Chapel was full. Several service Veterans were present and to our surprise a BBC cameraman turned up to film.  Reverend Alison gave an excellent sermon and three flags were paraded.   
​David Thorne played the organ and Vicky Mace was our trumpeter.  Without these two excellent musicians, the service would not have been so emotive and memorable.
        Afterwards, veterans and their friends were treated to refreshments in the museum cafe by the Museum Director, Katie Edwards. 

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If you would like to download and  see the Order of Service Click here - bob_sep_2022_final_1.pdf
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Battle of Britain Sunday Service 18th September 2022

Battle of Britain Day 15 September 2022
    A service on Battle of Britain Day was held near the Gate Guardians.  Reverend Alison Newman led 50 people in prayers remembering those who had died in the Battle of Britain. Seven ladies each read out 15 names and laid wreaths of For-Get -Me -Not flowers on which were the names of the 105 airmen who died flying from the Biggin Hill Sector in the Battle.
    By Chance, a Spitfire flew overhead at the appropriate time​ and the the Chapel bell tolled 105 times.
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Churchill's words recited by Air Cdre John Bell

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​Battle of Britain Sunday 19th September 2021
The service led by Reverend Peter Hills was held on a lovely warm sunny day. Peter, a man of military experience gave a different insight, in his sermon, in to the days of 1940 and the airmen who fought to keep our country free. 
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​The Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley  Councillor Russell Mellor read a lesson and several Councillors attended together with Mr Bruce Walker , Chairman of the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum Trust.   

CWO Tomas Kaspar, Assistant to the Defence Attache of the Czech Republic Embassy, accompanied by his wife and daughter  represented the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
​
Corporal James Kennell of 2427 Squadron  (Biggin Hill) Air Training Corps read a lesson.  Veterans Anne Galley,  Len Shepard, Alec Borrie participated in the service and Veteran Harry Winters was also present.

A quartet , Claire Jones, Siân Henderson, Ben James and Will Kendal sang two anthems and led the hymn singing congregation  with David Thorne on the organ. Trumpeter Vicky Mace gave a perfect rendering of the Last Post and Reveille. 

​Standards of Royal Air Forces Association Central London,  the Royal Navy Association and Canada were paraded as well as Banners from 2427 Biggin Hill,  1921 Lewisham and 173 Orpington Air Training Corps Squadrons.

The Chapel was as full as possible complying with the Church of England service restrictions and fire regulations.

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Entry of the Mayor Russell Mellor
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Reverend Peter Hills
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Veteran Anne Galley
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The Royal Salute

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Harry Winters and Rita Radford

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Standards and Banners being presented to the altar
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Corporal James Kennell
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Veteran Len Shepard
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Ready for the Royal Salute

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Harry Winters   Cllr Kim Botting,   Mayor and Mayoress Mellor                                                                                

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Mrs Kaspar, Harry Winters, Tomas Kaspar, Bruce Walker
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Miss Katie Edwards and Harry Winters 
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                                                                     2427 Sqn  ATC                                     173 Sqn ATC                                      1921 Sqn ATC
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 2427 Sqn ATC, RAFA Central London Branch, 173 Sqn ATC, Canada, 1921 Sqn ATC, Royal Navy Association.

​If you would like to read the service , it is available just below here.
bob_sep_21_final_6.9.21.pdf
File Size: 498 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

80th Anniversary of the Battle for Britain 2020

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​A Commemoration and Thanksgiving service for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain was held on Sunday 13th September 2020.  ​​​

​During the service 101 names of aircrew, who died flying from the Biggin Hill Sector, during the Battle for Britain were read out by veterans. The names of the aircrew are remembered on the reredos.​​



 The service was lead by Reverend Alison Newman and the Bishop of Tonbridge, The Right Reverend Simon Burton-Jones gave the sermon.  Miss Claire Jones sang 'Pie Jesu' and 'A Gaellic Blessing'. The trumpeter was Miss Victoria Mace and Mr David Thorne, the organist.
​
​The Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, Hannah Gray and her Consort Councillor Colin Hitchens were present.

                                      ................................................................................

 Taken from Biggin Hill Councillors on Facebook;
​
"The 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 1940 - Commemoration and Thanksgiving Service in the presence of the Mayor of Bromley, Cllr Hannah Gray was held today at the RAF Chapel of Remembrance.

The Service was led by The Bishop of Tonbridge the Right Rev Simon Burton-Jones, and the Chaplain the Rev Alison Newman. It was an Inspirational Service. The names of all of the 101 Pilots from Biggin Hill Sector,who died during the Battle of Britain were read out by veterans who served at Biggin Hill in this period, L.A.C.Len Shepard, WAAF Plotter Ann Galley, Halifax Wireless Operator Harry Winter and Wendy Wallington, daughter of the late Air Commodore Peter Brothers, whose Hurricane is commemorated as one of the Gate Guardians. The Act of Remembrance was read by Peter Lemon a Wellington Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. It was an honour to see these genuine Veterans taking Part in this very special Service.

Our sincerest thanks to all of those who were involved in the preparation and management of the Service, too many to name. I must mention Victoria Mace, Head of Music at Charles Darwin, who was the Trumpeter.

Particular thanks to the present owners of the late Geoffrey Wellums’ Aston Martin. His replica Spitfire is the second Gate Guardian.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend to commemorate this very, very Special anniversary for Biggin Hill."


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"The photos show the Service with Social distancing, Melanie and Julian in the car, with permission and Rev Alison Newman, Sqn Ldr John Wohlgemuth and one of his officers re-enacting the history and the Mayor speaking to the owners."                         Photos from the Councillors' post.

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The Mayor of the London Borough of Bromley, Hannah Gray posted:
'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'. Words that were poignantly remembered as the names of those who served at Biggin Hill and lost their lives in the Battle of Britain were read out by veterans at the Battle of Britain 80th anniversary service of commemoration held at St George's RAF Chapel at Biggin Hill today. The beautifully crafted and immaculately organised socially distanced service was led by the Bishop of Tonbridge and the Reverend Alison Newman. A deeply moving service that was enhanced by the occasional inspirational roar of a Merlin engine as a Spitfire passed overhead.'

Bishop Simon Burton -Jones, Mayor Hannah Gray, Rev Alison Newman
Photo from the Mayor's post.
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Photos from the Mayor's post.
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 Mrs Barbara Hodges arranged flowers with an embroidered flag for each allied country, reflecting the flags either side of the altar.
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  • WELCOME
    • Membership of the Friends >
      • Friends helping the Museum
      • Displays in the Chapel >
        • Contact and location
    • Photo Gallery
    • Friends' Services
  • The Chapel
    • Chapel Services
    • Personal Services
    • Sunday and Special services
    • Special Services (PAST) >
      • Forget-Me-Not Service
      • Armed Forces/Veterans Service >
        • Armed Forces Day 2022
      • Remembrance 2019/18
      • Remembrance 2023
      • Remembrance 2024
      • Battle of Britain Services 2020 - 24
      • ATC 60th Anniversary
      • ATC Feb 24
      • Christmasses
      • Mothers' Day
      • Drumhead 2023
      • Lantern Service
      • VE DAY 2020
      • VE Day 80
      • DDAY 80
  • Memorial Plaques
  • Special Services and talks
  • St George's Service 2025
  • Peter Lemon RIP
  • Outings /Events
    • Peterborough Trip
    • Peter's Party
    • John Bell's 90th
  • Holocaust Remembered
  • Remembrance Garden
    • REM GDN DAMAGE
  • Chapel Events
  • Visitors to the Chapel
  • Stories
  • History
    • November 2023 News
  • The Gate Guardian Story
    • Gate Guardian archive
  • Queen Elizabeth ll
    • Recent Events
  • General Archive
  • History
    • Rem Gdn Archived entries
  • Father Gerald Flood
  • Mini shop
  • Dutch Day