On Friday 21st July, a Memorial Service for
Sir Sydney Camm CBE Hon FRAeS was held at The Parish Church of St John
the Baptist, Windsor High Street, marking the 40th anniversary of his
death. The event, which included the unveiling of a commemorative
tablet and a reception at The Guildhall afterwards, was the brainchild
of Flight Lieutenant Stuart Leigh-Davies FIS RAFVR T, Officer
Commanding 459 (Windsor) Squadron ATC.
Notable attendees who addressed the congregation were Air Chief Marshal
Sir Joe French, C-in-C Strike Command, RAF; Ambrose Barber, Chairman of
the Hawker Association; and Elizabeth Dickson, granddaughter of Sir
Sydney. The tablet was unveiled by Elizabeth's daughter and Sir
Sydney's great granddaughter, Chloe Barrett-Dickson.
The Service was
conducted by the Revd Mary Barnes and was attended by a large
congregation with many colleagues of Sir Sydney from the Hawker
Association, including Ralph Hooper, successor to Sir Sydney as the
long term leader of the Kingston design team. BAE Sytems was
represented by the Engineering Director at Farnborough, Simon Howison.
Local dignitaries included the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire,
John E Handcock, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Windsor. The RAF was
represented by members of 459 Squadron ATC and RAF officers with
fond memories of Sir Sydney's fighters, including Air Chief Marshal Sir
Dick Johns, recently retired Chief of the Air Staff.
At the reception Flt Lt Stuart Leigh-Davies gave the background to the
event and noted that it was the start of a longer term project to set
up a larger, permanent memorial to Sir Sydney in the town.
