This week is Battle of Britain Week. Many older readers will have their own memories of that time in 1940 during a beautiful summer when the sky was black with enemy aircraft day after day for four months trying to destroy the Royal Air Force prior to Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of the south coast of England.

The RAF were outnumbered but fought doggedly on and the enemy eventually decided to switch their attention elsewhere and abandon the invasion which relieved the RAF and gave them time to rebuild.

However, we remember the Battle of Britain not to glorify war or crow over our victory but to honour so many of our young men, some only 19 or 20 years old, who gave their lives to save our country from disaster.

So we give thanks to God for their courage and devotion to duty remembering Winston Churchill's immortal words - "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few".

The Annual Battle of Britain service will take place at St Martins Church, Lewes Road, Brighton at 3pm on September 19. The mayor and local MPs will be in attendance.

-L Terry, Chairman, Brighton and Hove RAFA