I found myself at a gig the other month in East Grinstead, and with some time to spare beforehand, a peek inside the church seemed a good move.
Particularly as the door (not pictured, fyi) was open. Hooray!
I spy Rolls of Honour, poppies and wall plaques,…
…this one of particular interest. The Guinea Pig Club was established in 1941 as a support network for British aircrew who had suffered injury during the Second World War. The club magazine, ‘The Guinea Pig’ was, for the best part of thirty five years, edited by, and included cartoons and line drawings by, Standen (pictured), despite the serious burns to his hands and face received on 14th December 1941 when his Handley Page Hampden was involved in a collision with another Hampden while awaiting take off. Static electricity as the two planes’ wingtips touched ignited both bombers’ fuel and bomb loads – actually, mine loads for a mine-laying operation – but Standen managed to hurl himself to the ground just before the explosion. And yes, that’s the Guinea Pig Club crest I’ve chopped in half at the bottom of the photo.
Great War Roll of Honour,…
…and Second World War Roll of Honour.
Elsewhere, a second Great War Roll of Honour,…
…I think only the third Oddfellows one I’ve come across.
East Grinstead also has this rather impressive water tower,…
…and here’s a photo of the gig. There’s a TBN Gold Star on offer for anyone who can identify this lot. They have been around through seven decades, and many line-up changes, but this ain’t no tribute band……
Magic
I immediately recognised as fairport convention. I used to work at muswell Hill police ststion in the early 70’s and visited on more than one occasion the block of flats off Fortis Green named Fairport. I recall dave pegg was one of the inhabitants. Great group just round the corner fton the other great British institution namely the Kinks.