Poppy-adorned Spitfire soars as Bromley borough falls silent on Remembrance Sunday 2015
Hatty Collier, reporter / / News
A Spitfire decorated with poppies soared above Biggin Hill as people fell silent to commemorate fallen troops at Remembrance Sunday services across the Bromley borough.
The two-seater TR9 MJ827 Spitfire was adorned with 150 of the red flowers – 75 on each side to mark the number of years since the Battle of Britain.
Veterans, residents and politicians gathered to pay their respects at a wreath-laying ceremony at St George’s Chapel gate guardians, in Main Road, Biggin Hill and at other Remembrance services in towns and villages across the borough.
Pilot Clive Denney flew the aircraft over St George’s Chapel at around 11am but could not reach the white cross on the hill just above Shoreham village as planned due to bad weather.
Aviation historian and PR for the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, Robin Brooks, said: “I am afraid the weather really beat us badly but we still managed a circuit of the airfield and over St George’s Chapel.
“We have done a lot for the veterans this year and we are very proud to do so.”
Meanwhile in Orpington, hundreds turned out to see wreaths laid at the war memorial, followed by a service at All Saints Parish Church and a further wreath laying ceremony at Canadian Corner.
Steve Susans and Steve Champion of Royal British Legion Orpington
People gather for a wreath laying ceremony at St George’s Chapel gate guardians
Andrew Larby holding a wreath on behalf of London Ambulance Service in Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill Primary School headteacher James Ellis with pupils Lucy Rooney, Billy Sedon, Eddie Frost and Macy Dell
Orpington’s Remembrance service
Police and cadets at Orpington’s Remembrance Sunday service
Orpington’s Remembrance service
Jo Johnson MP with Daphne Wright, chairman of the Orpington Conservative Association, during Orpington’s Remembrance ceremony
If you’d like to send in your photos from other ceremonies across the Bromley borough, email them to harriet.collier@london.newsquest.co.uk.
growing up in biggin hill and now living in orpington, i still get to see these planes fly over