Esteemed Members and their Guests joined us for the Club’s ever-popular Battle of Britain Dinner on Thursday 14th September as we marked the anniversary of one of the most important events in Royal Air Force history; the ferocious battle fought over Britain between 10th July and 31st October 1940.The evening started with a Champagne reception followed by a delicious three course Dinner in the Sovereigns Room and a talk from our guest speaker, author Dilip Sarkar.

Dilip's presentation, which took place in the past, centered on "The Few" and was a unique showcase of personal narratives sourced from survivors' albums. It exclusively revolved around the personal experiences of a select group of individuals from the esteemed Battle of Britain Fighter Association, individuals whom Dilip was intimately acquainted with. Given the vastness of Dilip's archival collection, the content of his presentation was always evolving, ensuring that no two versions were the same.

One recent iteration of this presentation was well-received during a webinar supporting the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. This presentation featured well-known "aces" such as Group Captain Peter Townsend, alongside the less celebrated, like Sergeant Peter Fox, a nineteen-year-old Hurricane pilot during the summer of 1940, who humorously described himself as an "also ran." Additionally, it shed light on the often overlooked support staff. What captivated Dilip most were the untold stories of these "also rans" – remarkable tales of unassuming individuals who never considered themselves heroes. In truth, "The Few" established a new standard of courage and were genuine heroes, their accomplishments unmatched. Thus, it was only fitting that their stories were meticulously recorded, shared, and remembered in such a personal manner. Today, there is only one known surviving Battle of Britain pilot, making Dilip himself a living connection to the past. He took great pleasure in imparting his knowledge of these remarkable memories to our Members at this fascinating event