TWO men who became local heroes through acts of bravery and kindness have been celebrated by primary school pupils.
Following a chance conversation between a teacher at Thorpe Hall Primary School in Hale End Road, Walthamstow, and a groundsman at Douglas Eyre Sports Ground in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, about two years ago, a history project was started.
After many hours of research, children from Year 5 and Year 6 created two murals in honour of Douglas Eyre and pilot Harvey Dalton Johnson.
Johnson was an American pilot who, in 1942, crashed onto the sports ground to try to avoid houses and residents on nearby Edward Road when his Spitfire's engine failed.
He died instantly, but his act of bravery has been marked with a plaque at the sports ground.
Douglas Eyre started the London Playing fields Foundation, which now owns several sports grounds, including Douglas Eyre.
The foundation was started to give poor children from east London an opportunity to take part in recreation.
Teacher Oz Orman, who headed the project, said: “It was a really good way for the children to find out about the two men who not a lot of local people probably know about.
“By creating the murals themselves, it allowed them to learn in a very creative way.”
A celebration of the two men will end with a Spitfire fly-past of the sports ground and school on Wednesday May 11.
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