Among the crew who were killed when a British aircraft crashed near Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.A was Sub-Lieut, Henry Hugh Lilley, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Lilley, of 12, Council Houses, Thorney.

By his death at the age of 21, a life full of the promise of youth has been cut short, Sub-Lieut. Lilley was educated at the Wisbech Gram¬mar School, where he studied from 1933 to 1940, and, although of a quiet, unassuming disposition, he greatly distinguished himself both academically and in the realms of sport.

He was an exceptionally fine footballer gaining his colours in the 1936-7 season, and was captain of the School XI during the seasons 1938-9-40. He first played for Wisbech Town Football Club at the age of 16, and he was in that team when the club fielded a number of West Ham players, including so far-famed footballer as Macaulay. Macaulay, in fact, took a great personal interest in Lilley and had forecast a brilliant future for him in the game. Sub-Lieut. Lilley also played for King's Lynn.

An all-round athlete, Sub-Lieut. Lilley gained his cricket colours in the 1938-9 season and captained the team in 1939-40, being one of the best bats the School has had for years. He represented the School in athletics in 1935-6 as a junior, and in 1939-40 as a senior. In the latter period he was captain of the School, He was also a remarkably good hurdler and high-jumper, and was a sergeant in the School Cadet Corps, He was captain of Crane's,

After leaving school in 1940, Sub Lieut. Lilley worked for a short time with the M. and G.N. Railway Company, but afterwards joined the Fleet Air Arm.

Also listed for this parish in the Ely Cathedral Second World War Book of Remembrance:

R.A.F. colleagues and friends attended the funeral at Thorney on Wednesday of Sgt. A. A. (Tony) Whittome. R.A.F., of The Thatched Cottage, Castor, who was killed on active service at the week-end.

Sgt. Whittome was 28, and married. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Frank Whittome,

of Park View, Thorney, and his wife was formerly Miss Freda Beard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Beard, of New Park, March. An Old - Petriburgian, he was a keen rugby footballer. He won his King's School Colours, and also played for Peterborough Town. He had been in the R.A.F. about two and a half years, one year of which he spent in Canada training for his wings. His wife is telephonist in the A.R.P. Control at Peterborough.

The Thatched Cottage, where Sgt. Whittome lived, is interesting from an architectural point of view. It was an old barn and Sgt. Whittome converted it into a very pleasant old-world house.

At the funeral the coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and was borne by six members of the R.A:F. The service was conducted by the Rev. B. G. Parsons.