Amy Johnson Herne Bay – unveiling Information Board 20th Sep

BWPA members attended the Amy Johnson event in Herne Bay on 20th Sep. Due to fog, the fly past of the vintage Spirit of Artemis by Tracey Curtis-Taylor was cancelled. The event included 30’s songs by KAS, unveiling of a new information board about Amy and re-enactment of Amy arriving in 1930 after her Australian flight.  At the reception, there was an interesting film about “wonderful Amy” by an Australian film maker. Further information was also provided by the Kent diving team on the project about searching for  wreckage of Amy’s aircraft.

Photos of the event can be found :https://www.flickr.com/photos/amychau/sets/72157647422931158

The event schedule

11am KAS the Forces Sweetheart will be at the entrance to the Herne Bay Pier entertaining the crowds as guests and visitors arrive.

12pm Amy’s family unveil the information board and say a few words

12.10-12.15pm approx. – Tracey Curtis-Taylor fly past in the Spirit of Artemis

12.15pm Street theatre re enacting Amy arriving in 1930 on one of her official visits following the Australia flight

12.25pm KAS recommences singing for the crowds again but invited guest make their way to the Kings Hall (about a 10 minute walk along the seafront from the pier

When guests arrive at the reception there will be a light lunch and drinks and a chance for everyone to chat and mingle until a film show about Amy.  There will also be a talk and film by the dive team on the search for the wreckage of the plane and a 93 year old speaker will reveal some new information on the same subject

 

ITV short video clip can be found in below link

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2014-09-20/kent-tribute-to-female-flyer-amy-johnson/

ITV Extract below:

Kent tribute to aviation pioneer Amy Johnson

Relatives of legendary aviator Amy Johnson have unveiled an information board about her in Herne Bay as part of a project aimed at encouraging young people to follow her example.

The pioneering pilot was the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia but was killed when her aircraft crashed off the North Kent coast in 1941. The wreckage was never found but now a man who was based in Kent with the RAF at the time says he saw the aircraft on a low-loader. It adds to a mystery which has endured for more than 70 years.