Crayford Reminiscence and Youth is a new group set up by Crayford parents with the assistance of Bexley Local Studies and Archive, with the aim of involving children in heritage activities outside of school.

We are delighted to announce that, thanks to National Lottery players, our organisation has received £49,700 for our project 2nd Lt Wilfred Salmon and the First Blitz.

The project, made possible by this grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will help children explore a fascinating story linked to Bexley’s aviation history.

November 30, 2017, marks the centenary of the first flight of the Vickers Vimy, a plane that would go into aviation history as the first to cross the Atlantic in 1919. It was designed and built by Vickers in Crayford.

Using new archive material, Crayford Reminiscence and Youth aim to tell the forgotten story of why the plane came to be built.

This amazing development in history of aviation arose from the death of a brave Australian RFC pilot, 2nd Lt Wilfred Salmon. He took off from Vickers’ airfield at Joyce Green to take on an armada of 22 Gotha bombers in his Sopwith Pup, which crashed at Slade Green, then part of Crayford, on July 7 ,1917.

Salmon’s demise came at the end of a deadly raid over central London, the First Blitz, and prompted the formation of the Royal Air Force and led to the ordering of a plane that could seek revenge, the Vicker’s Vimy.

This project has also received a significant grant from the Bexleyheath Business Improvement District that will showcase animation, art and drama activities at this year’s Armed Forces Weekend in Bexleyheath Broadway on June 24 and 25.

Tony Garratt, Bexleyheath BID manager, said; “It gives us great honour in supporting such an initiative. To show support for our Armed Forces past and present with such events gives us hope that future generations will recognise and understand the history of Bexley, whilst acknowledging the sacrifice of those whom served.”

Other activities have been organised at Bexley Local Studies and Archives including a children’s writing workshop with leading author and illustrator Michael Foreman on May 30, film making, drama and research.

There will also be illustrated talks over the next 18 months given by local historians.

The focal point of the project will arrive in the summer holiday with a project with film makers Digital Works that will train 16 local children to create a documentary about Wilfred Salmon at a number of historic locations. This film will be shown at Hall Place on November 30 to mark the first flight of the Vicker’s Vimy at Joyce Green.

Commenting on the award, the children of the group said: “We’re amazed that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. The group ( CRAY ) has given us some really good trips out but this is brilliant.

"We will learn so much about the history of our town!”

Article submitted by Julie Daniel