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You are here: Home>History>Local Lives

Local Lives

  • 2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry Albert Godfrey

    2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry Albert Godfrey

    2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry Albert Godfrey, was a local lad whose family lived at No.5 Norfolk Terrace, Godstone Rd (the row of shops next to The Kenley Hotel). As far as we know, he never flew from RAF Kenley. 
  • Alistair's Memories

    Alistair's Memories

    I  spent most of the years between 1945 and 2012 living at 170 Whyteleafe Hill opposite "the aerodrome" as everyone called it.
  • Ann Welch - Aviatrix Extraordinaire

    Ann Welch - Aviatrix Extraordinaire

    To date most of our stories about Kenley have featured men. To mark International Women’s Day 2017 on 8 March we thought it was timely to record the amazing life of one of Britain’s foundation glider pilots who had a Kenley connection. Ann Welch (1917-2002) was a world class glider pilot and an aviator who flew more than 100 aircraft types, from gliders to Wellington bombers.
  • Digging into the Past: A Vintage Poster with Local Roots   -   Croydon Citizen Article

    Digging into the Past: A Vintage Poster with Local Roots - Croydon Citizen Article

    Wandle Park recently partnered with the Kenley Revival Project to host a World War Two poster- making workshop, using vintage ...
  • Group Captain William Samuel Caster MC

    Group Captain William Samuel Caster MC

    At the front of Airmens' Corner, at St. Luke's Churchyard, Whyteleafe, are two metal plaques. One of them remembers an airman who served with 24 (Communications) Squadron, at Kenley, in the 1920's.
  • LAC Walter James "Bill" Tyrrell of 615 Squadron

    LAC Walter James "Bill" Tyrrell of 615 Squadron

    Walter James "Bill" Tyrrell was born in Brockley on 7th March, 1922. He was nicknamed Bill after Billy Buster, a carton character of that time, I’m told.  His mother Annie Tyrrell, Nee’ Hayward was from Brockley and his Father Frederick Tyrrell was born in Carlshalton, in 1891.
  • Leading Aircraftman Cedric Wort - National Serviceman

    Leading Aircraftman Cedric Wort - National Serviceman

    In the early 1950's, Caterham lad, Cedric Wort must have felt that he was on familiar ground when he heard the news that he was going to be posted to Kenley, as part of his National Service with the RAF.
  • Lillias Barr Performances

    Lillias Barr Performances

    In a moving tribute to RAF Kenley, this month, the Kenley Revival Project have brought to the stage the true ...
  • Love is in the Air

    Love is in the Air

    This Valentine’s Day, many of you may take a moment to celebrate your relationships and reflect on the good times ...
  • Memories of William Battle

    Memories of William Battle

    I’d like to tell the story of my great grandfather William Battle, who is on my mothers side of the ...
  • Rationing Begins

    Rationing Begins

    On the 8 January 1940, rationing began in the UK, this first started with bacon, butter and sugar – later ...
  • Sheila Wilkie's Memories of Douglas Bader

    Sheila Wilkie's Memories of Douglas Bader

    Sheila used to fill in for Douglas Bader's secretary when he was away and got to know Bader quite well. The  staff used to refer to the management by their initials and Bader was known as "B."
  • Squadron Leader Glyn Ashfield DFC AFC

    Squadron Leader Glyn Ashfield DFC AFC

    Although Glyn is not believed to have been stationed at RAF Kenley, he and his parents Ernest Andrew and Elizabeth Selina Ashfield, lived in Limpsfield and Oxted, Surrey for most of their lives.
  • The Bourne Society Bulletin 201 - Recollections - 1939-1945

    The Bourne Society Bulletin 201 - Recollections - 1939-1945

    Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Bulletin 201 – August 2005 Preview During World War II my parents, sister ...
  • The Bourne Society Volume 46 - Memories of the Early 1950's

    The Bourne Society Volume 46 - Memories of the Early 1950's

    Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 46 – February 2006 Preview During the first half of that decade ...
  • The Bourne Society Volume 59 - On the Ground at Kenley in September 1940

    The Bourne Society Volume 59 - On the Ground at Kenley in September 1940

    Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 59 – May 2009 Preview I was just nineteen, an immature recruit, having ...
  • The Bourne Society Volume 60 - Life in Caterham in the 1940's and 1950's

    The Bourne Society Volume 60 - Life in Caterham in the 1940's and 1950's

    Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 60 – August 2009 Preview I was born in Georges Terrace, Caterham ...
  • The Bourne Society Volume 72 - Wartime Fire Service in Caterham

    The Bourne Society Volume 72 - Wartime Fire Service in Caterham

    Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 72 – August 2012 Preview There was an article on TV recently in ...
  • Wallace Royle Juden Lidbetter - Gunner to Home Guard

    Wallace Royle Juden Lidbetter - Gunner to Home Guard

    We are grateful to Jan Murphy for these photos of her Grandfather, Wallace Royle Juden Lidbetter, and documents associated with his service during the Second World War.
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