49 Squadron Association

Ken Symond's 100th birthday

Ken Symonds was 100 years old on the 20th August 2024 and passed away just five days later on the 25th August 2024.

Movingly, Deborah Follett comments, "Five years I cared for him, my dear neighbour, daily and I'd do it all again. It was so little in comparison to the forty years he gave in the RAF."

Deborah continues:
When I asked him what he would like to do for his 100th he said that as a child he used to love sitting up at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth (near to where he was born and raised) listening to the band on the bandstand and eating chips (fish was a rare luxury).

Whenever we could I would take him to our village green to "watch the village go by" from a deckchair with fish & chips - simple pleasures.

So that is what he wanted for his birthday....a deckchair, a malt whisky, fish & chips, a silver band and cake and a drink for everyone.
The date was to be the 31st August and the villagers and friends could join him there. I was detailed to "carry on" if he didnt make it - I fulfilled that promise and topped it with the three flypasts.

I had (with some insider help from the Association of Flight Engineers) arranged for the memorial flight who were at the nearby Bournemouth Airshow to perform an unscheduled flypast for his "public birthday" which was to be held on the village green.

He was so looking forward to it.....silver band, fish & chips, huge cake, some RAF mates and as many villagers who wanted to stop by. 

When Ken died on the 25th August I had to tell the flight that he had passed and I expected them to cancel. 
It was Ken's wish that if he didnt make the day I should "carry on" and put his whisky on his empty deckchair in front of the band, eat the cake and pass the drink around. 
The memorial flight were of the same opinion and they said they were still attending.
I raised an RAF flag on the Church pole, ran it at half mast and put his coffin in the Church. 
The village turned out in droves, the band struck up with, "Those magnificent men in their flying machines" and Flt Lt Seb Davey and his FE, Sqn Ldr Jim Stokes and crew dropped as low as they could and made three passes of our village green - there wasn't a dry eye amongst us. 
It was the most fantastic birthday/memorial day/event I have ever planned in my life.
It was a damn shame he missed it, but I like to think he had the best view in the house.

The following photographs are courtesy of Deborah & Ryan Follett and Fred Slade.

As an ex-florist Deborah created both Ken's coffin spray and his flying badge funeral tribute. 

Michael Moxon MEng and Deborah Follett

Deborah concludes:
Michael Moxon (aka Moose) Chair of the Association of Flight & Air Engineers was so supportive and integral to getting that Lancaster there, he's an absolute star. In fact all the FEs have been wonderful to me and still are.

The Association would like to thank Deborah for all the love and care she offered to one of our veterans........it is hugely appreciated.