Flt Sgt Peter Brown: Hundreds attend funeral of WW2 RAF airman

Hundreds of radical are expected to be the ceremonial of a World War Two RAF airman from London.

Flt Sgt Peter Brown, primitively from Jamaica, was 1 the past alleged "pilots of the Caribbean", a radical of Afro-Caribbean unpaid unit who served successful the RAF successful the satellite wars.

He died successful astatine his location successful Maida Vale, northbound London, successful December, aged 96.

His ceremonial volition beryllium held from 11:00 BST astatine the RAF's Central Church, aft a run for a "fitting send-off".

More than 500 radical are expected to be the work astatine St Clement Danes Church, Westminster, including members of the equipped forces, representatives of the Caribbean community, friends and neighbours.

Brooke Alexander, a distant cousin, has flown to London from Jamaica for the service, having been tracked down by genealogists investigating Flt Sgt Brown's beingness story.

Ms Alexander said it was "absolutely fantastic that Westminster, the RAF and everyone decided it was worthy the effort to honour him successful a mode that is befitting".

"It's truly astonishing what they're doing to recognise his contribution, to recognise his sacrifice and the publication helium made, not conscionable to the UK, but to the satellite during specified a pivotal clip successful history."

Flt Sgt Brown's ceremonial was primitively going to beryllium held astatine Mortlake Crematorium successful south-west London successful March.

However, organisers moved it aft they were inundated with requests from the nationalist to be and neighbours campaigned for him to person a large send-off.

The neighbours told the BBC helium seldom talked astir his subject work and, erstwhile helium did, it was not successful a "boastful" way.

One neighbour, Julian Futter, said helium was amazed the ceremonial had turned into specified a large occasion.

"We were conscionable truly keen helium had a dignified and respectable send-off. We had nary conception it would beryllium astatine St Clement Danes. We conscionable didn't privation him to beryllium buried alone."

He added the airman would beryllium remembered connected galore levels.

"We knew him arsenic Peter but, of course, helium volition beryllium remembered arsenic 1 of these incredibly brave men who flew a bomber astatine tremendous hazard to themselves."

Peter Devitt, curator of the Royal Air Force Museum, told the BBC it was "both close and fitting" that Flt Sgt Brown's ceremonial was being held astatine St Clement Danes, which was fixed to the RAF aft World War Two.

Reverend (Group Captain) Ruth Hake, who volition behaviour the funeral, said it was important the work was held successful the "spiritual location of the Royal Air Force".

She added it would beryllium a peculiar work that "befits a precise peculiar idiosyncratic who committed a immense magnitude of his beingness to serving this country".

During the service, a speechmaking volition beryllium delivered by the RAF's commander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston. Some prayers volition besides beryllium led by the Revd Michael King, lad of Sam King, who established the Windrush Foundation.

Having near nary known relatives, the occupation of organising Flt Sgt Brown's ceremonial fell to his section authority, Westminster City Council.

Earlier this year, the assembly appealed to anyone related to the airman to marque contact, and aboriginal said it had received an "overwhelming" effect from radical funny successful the funeral.

Fascinated by his story, a squad of genealogists from Anglia Research, based successful Ipswich, aboriginal took connected the task of investigating his past and tracing immoderate surviving household members.

Half a twelve of his relatives are present owed to be the service, the assembly said.

Few knew overmuch astir about Flt Sgt Peter Brown's subject work until aft his death.

Born successful Jamaica connected 22 August 1926, helium was 1 of 450 young achromatic volunteers from the West Indies, Caribbean, Africa and parts of the UK who joined the RAF successful World War Two and flew craft specified arsenic the Lancaster and Spitfire.

According to RAF records, helium enlisted successful the RAF Volunteer Reserve successful September 1943 aft travelling to the UK.

He trained arsenic a wireless relation and aerial gunner, posted to RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire.

After the warfare ended, helium re-enlisted successful the RAF, moving arsenic a signaller.

Lisa Hill, a genealogist who researched Flt Sgt Brown's past, said helium had flown 5 missions successful Lancaster bombers earlier the property of 20.

"His bravery speaks for itself," she said.

She told the BBC that, having searched Jamaican paper archives, she recovered articles astir him returning location to sojourn his mother.

"The warmth with which helium is remembered some by friends, neighbours, section store owners and, astir significantly, his household is striking," she said.

He was passionate astir cricket and, for 30 years until 2016, helium was a subordinate of Marylebone Cricket Club.

His neighbours said they utilized to perceive him cheering astatine cricket matches successful his flat.

Flt Sgt Brown lived alone. But, according to his neighbours, helium was well-known successful his community, well-supported and helium was not lonely.

The ceremonial of Flt Sgt Peter Brown volition beryllium live-streamed connected Westminster City Council's website from 11:00 BST.