MP joins Battle of Britain Parade
19th September 2006
Hemel Hempstead’s MP, Mike Penning, joined well over 100 members of Herts & Bucks Wing Air Training Corps, and members of the public to mark Battle of Britain Sunday on 17 Sep.
A regular fixture on the Wing’s calendar for many years, the parade was lead by the band of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron followed by Royal Air Forces Association and Royal British Legion standards and ATC banners, ex-Service personnel and then two flights of cadets drawn from many of the Wing’s 30 Squadrons.
A service was held in St Paul’s church, Langleybury which was led by Rev Edward Lewis, the chaplain of 2F (Watford) Squadron, ATC. During his sermon, Rev Lewis described the achievements of those who fought in the Battle of Britain as being “ordinary people who rose to the challenge to do extraordinary things”. Lessons were read by two cadets from 248 (Letchworth) Sqn; Cpl Wesley Tierney and Sgt Holly Poynter. Wreaths on behalf of the Wing were laid by the parade commander Sqn Ldr Paul Mimpress RAFVR(T), Wing Staff Officer and Cdt Flt Sgt James Fish from 1280(Rickmansworth) Sqn.
Photo: Hemel Hempstead’s MP, Mike Penning joins Battle of Britain Parade.