Pilot Officer Peter Albert Nash was born in 1922 in Lewisham, the son of Alfred and Muriel Nash. By 1939, the family had moved to Parsonage Farm, Stansted. Following pilot training, Peter married Winifred Wesson at St Mary’s in August 1943.  Peter joined 630 Sqn, 5 Group, RAF Bomber Command, at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire and embarked on a hazardous career as a bomber pilot which was cut short by a tragic accident in 1944.

Walt Scott was a wireless operator/gunner with 630 Squadron.  He wrote some very moving poems about his time at RAF East Kirkby and on the Lancasters based there.  One of his best known and most evocative poems is ‘Old Airfield’ written about East Kirkby which during World War II was known by its call sign ‘SILKSHEEN’.  The poem is displayed on a plaque at the East Kirkby memorial which is on the site of the airfield’s old Guardroom.

A recording of the poem, read by Michael Howley of 630 Squadron, is played at the Service of Remembrance held in the hangar at East Kirkby during the annual reunion of the 57 & 630 Squadrons’ Association.  The recording below is provided courtesy of the 57 & 630 Squadrons’ Association.