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Brentford Says Final Farewell to Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns – Battle of Britain Veteran

Lodge Bothers funeral directors Surbiton and Funeral Directors Twickenham have had the privilege of conducting hundreds of funerals and memorials for some of Britain’s most loved people. They recently conducted a private funeral service for Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns.

Local resident Flight Lieutenant Owen Valentine Burns, who was an air gunner on Bristol Blenheims during the Battle of Britain – making him one of Churchill’s ‘The Few’ – has died at the age of 99.

Owen was born in Birkenhead on 20th November 1915 but moved to Brentford in 1983 where he joined Deborah, also from Birkenhead, who subsequently became his wife.

Owen, who was just a few months short of his 100th birthday, when he died on 30 June 2015, had volunteered for the RAF on 3 October 1939, joining up as a wireless operator/air gunner.
Owen joined 235 Squadron, a Coastal Command Squadron assigned to Fighter Command to replace losses incurred during the Battle for France and flew with them throughout the Battle of Britain.

On 11th September 1940 he was one of 6 Blenheims escorting 6 Albacores of the Fleet Air Arm to Calais to torpedo the German fleet. On arrival they were greeted by anti-aircraft fire and then attacked by 25+ ME 109s. Fortunately the attack only lasted a few minutes, it is presumed because the Messerschmitts were low on fuel returning from an attack in SE England but only 3 Albacores and 4 Blenheims made it back. (This is an official entry in Lord Dowding’s Diary).

On 14 February 1941 Burns’ Blenheim was caught in an enemy raid while returning from a night patrol over the North Sea. The aircraft crashed on landing as the flare path lighting the airfield had been extinguished. The observer was killed and the pilot spent a year in hospital, but Owen escaped with a broken collar bone – could the date Valetine’s Day be significant?

In January 1945 he was appointed Gunnery Officer for 19 Group, Plymouth and a month later he became PA to Air Officer Commanding Air Vice Marshal CBS Spackman. Owen left the RAF in March 1948.

After the war Owen worked in the North West of England for a whisky company before coming to London after his retirement. He became involved in Battle of Britain activities and as recently as 10 June 2015, Owen and Deborah attended a tea for members of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association hosted by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

He was also recently presented to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at the opening of the new visitor centre ‘The Wing’ at the National Memorial to ‘The Few’ in Capel le Ferne, Kent in March.

Owen died peacefully on 30th June 2015 in hospital after a short illness and is survived by his wife Deborah, his 6 daughters and his son.

Click here Funeral Directors Cobham for more information on how Lodge Brothers can assist you.

Over 2 years of planning and evaluation came to fruition this month with the launch of a new coaching and training scheme for Chauffeur/Bearers at Lodge Brothers Head Office in Feltham.

The initiative runs parallel to the existing training programme but is much more in depth and allows staff to develop both their skills and their career, and is totally unique to Lodge Brothers.

The scheme has 5 levels matched to staffs’ experience, ranging from new entrants to the most experienced Chauffeur/Bearer.  Staff are able to gain knowledge and experience outside their normal duties together with acquiring life skills such as communications, leadership and management.

As staff progress through the scheme they are rewarded to reflect their achievements, which are carefully monitored.

Lodge Brothers Director Janet Lodge said, ‘The initiative has already given Lodge Brothers funeral directors Twickenham Chauffeur Bearers more peripheral knowledge of their work which has resulted in an even better service for our clients’.

The picture shows staff receiving their first awards under the programme.

Click here for more information on the Chauffeur Bearers training Funeral Directors Cobham and arrange a funeral Cobham.

Lodge brothers floral tributes Twickenham are not just a funeral director company they care about the community and staff well-being who offer many services including floral tributes Cobham and arrange a funeral Twickenham.

When arranging a funeral with Funeral Directors Twickenham there is a large selection of a wide range of memorials and floral arrangements giving clients the opportunity to say goodbye in the way they deem fit. A funeral is the last chance to say goodbye to our loved ones and Lodge Brothers give us the opportunity to do just that. It can be a very emotional time and our dedicated staff headed by Mr Robert Lodge who has many years’ experience with customers guiding them in this difficult process with empathy.

Funeral Directors Cobham also headed by Mr Robert Lodge are funeral directors based in beautiful upmarket village of Cobham serving the greater community in surrounding areas. They offer floral arranging, funeral arranging, cremations, lawn memorials, pre-paid funeral plans and more….