Canadian airmen graves in Old Weston

by Robin Coles

My name is Robin Coles and I was born in Old Weston at the Old Shop (main picture) in 1937. My parents ran the shop at that time.

Four years later we moved into the next door house which was known as Sherwood (now no longer there)and continued to do so until I left school in 1956. My parents remained there until their deaths in '61 and '64. I was christened and confirmed at St. Swithin's and my parents are buried just inside the gate.

During their life time my parents looked after the war graves of the four airmen who were killed in 1942.

I have been investigating to see if i can find out more about the airmen and do not agree with the story on the website stating that their plane clipped the top off the church spire. The Langleys, who still live in the village, claim that the piece of spire in the churchyard was already there before 1934, when they moved to Old Weston so it could not have been knocked off by the plane in 1942.

My parents corresponded for many years with the mother of one of the airmen who was killed.

I am trying to find out more of the story of the plane crash and wonder if anyone else has any comment or recollection to add to our knowledge.

Is there anything in the Church records, such as the Log Book or Terrier to state when the spire was damaged? The story as we know it was that it was struck by lightening. Perhaps someone knows more and I would like to hear from them.

Robin Coles