Villagers from West Horndon will gather tomorrow (Saturday 21st September) for its commemoration and thanksgiving service paying tribute to the American aircrewmen who died when two B17 bombers crashed over the village in 1943.

The memorial bench in West Horndon Park will be blessed at 10am, and the thanksgiving service will start at St Francis Church on Thorndon Avenue at 10.20am. There will also be an opportunity to drive to Nutty's Farm and walk across the field to the site of the crash. An American Airforce officer will be laying a wreath at this site.

I took the opportunity to visit the site and the memorial bench this week with the Brentwood Borough councillors for West Horndon, Cat Tierney and Maria Pearson. If you have the chance to take part in the service tomorrow, or come and visit the bench, I know the people of West Horndon will welcome you.