On the evening of 27th November, 1940, Mrs. Marjorie French sat alone in the air raid shelter at her home in Glenn Avenue, Purley. Warmed by an electric fire she was awaiting the return of her husband, John, a toolmaker by trade. As she listened for the sound of his car, the drone of an aircraft caught her attention...and then a bomb dropped.
In September 2022, I had the privilege of being invited to give a talk about RAF Kenley to 'The 35 Club' in Old Coulsdon and was delighted to discover that this wonderful social club has a long and distinguished history...
So far as human knowledge can tell, this shelter is safe from all bombing' said Mr F H Jones, chairman of the Surrey County Council at Kenley on Saturday, when opening the new deep shelter which has been cut into the heart of the chalk under Riddlesdown.
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.