Second World War Service and Sacrifice

Pilots of the Madras Squadron. Group including Sgt. (later Flt. Lt.) Billy Strachan (extreme left). Billy’s plane was named Vizagapatam after the town in India which paid for it.

Billy Strachan (1921- 1998)

Born in Jamaica as William Arthur Watkin Strachan, Billy left school in December 1939 with a desire to…


Gilbert Clarke, who lives in Plaistow, shared his memories of D-Day as a young RAF recruit training in Britain.

Gilbert Clarke

Born in Jamaica, Gilbert, his brother and sister lost their father when Gilbert was three. A bright pupil…


ROYAL AIR FORCE FLYING TRAINING COMMAND, 1940-1945. (CH 2430) Air Marshal L A Pattinson, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Flying Training Command, talking to Babatunde Alakija, the first Nigerian to join the RAF, at an RAF Receiving Depot at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. His name is Babatundo Alakija, but he is known as 'Ali' by the other cadets. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210040

Second World War Service and Sacrifice – Babatunde O. Alakija

Born in Nigeria, Alakija was educated at Oxford and was to hold the British Public School High Jump Championship. Alakija’s father,…


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Black History Month

2023 LISTINGS

Southend Saturday 2th December 2023

Leona Lewis

Record-breaking global sensation Leona Lewis comes to Southend as part of her major UK tour for Christmas 2023….

Brighton and Hove Sunday 3th December

Magic Of Motown At Christmas

Come and celebrate as the all-new for ’23 show rounds off the year with an extra-special festive performance….