Hero's send-off on May 25 for modest "Pilot of the Caribbean"

Many Formosa residents will no doubt remember retired Flight Sergeant Peter Brown, who lived on the Garden in Warrington Crescent for many years & was a familiar figure at his local paper shop, Dhigs -- always smartly dressed & up for a chat with passers-by. He was humble about his role in the Second World War but in fact was one of the last black "Pilots of the Caribbean", volunteering to come over from Jamaica aged 17 in 1943 & going on to fly five operations in Lancaster bombers.

Sadly Peter died last December aged 96 leaving no known family, but a campaign fronted by the RAF, Westminster Council & history enthusiasts to encourage people to turn up to his funeral went viral to the extent that organisers ditched plans to hold it at Mortlake Crematorium on March 29th, for fear that the number of people attending would far exceed the chapel's capacity. Now the funeral has been re-arranged for May 25th at the 1,000-year-old St Clement Danes church in the Strand, with 600 seats reserved for the public. Priority will be given to those with a connection to him, among whom are sure to be many Formosa Garden residents wanting to give this modest man the send-off he deserves.