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Aurelia Road, CROYDON, CR0 3BB

On 9 August 1961 a Vickers Viking operated by Cunard Eagle Airways (later British Eagle) crashed into a mountain near Holta on the approach to Stavanger Airport in Norway from Heathrow with the deaths of all 39 on board: 3 crew, 34 schoolboys from The Archbishop Lanfranc School in Thornton Heath, plus two members of staff from the school. Many of the group, flying to a camping holiday in the Norwegian highlands, had never flown before. The Norwegian report on the incident concluded that the pilot was off-course for unknown reasons. This is the memorial and burial place for 33 of the boys and one of the teachers. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14444295 and http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10077.those_aboard_fatal_flight_rembered/

Lanfranc Air Crash Memorial. 9th August 1961. Thirty four pupils and two teachers of Lanfranc Secondary Modern School, Croydon, were killed when the Viking airliner they were flying in crashed while making the approach to the Sola Airport near Stavanger, Norway; they had been travelling to a camping holiday. The mass grave contains thirty four of the victims, buried together in Croydon Cemetery.

Looking over the cemetery wall.

Lanfranc Air Crash Memorial. 9th August 1961. Thirty four pupils and two teachers of Lanfranc Secondary Modern School, Croydon, were killed when the Viking airliner they were flying in crashed while making the approach to the Sola Airport near Stavanger, Norway; they had been travelling to a camping holiday. The mass grave contains thirty four of the victims, buried together in Croydon Cemetery.

Right by the Thornton Road (A23) entrance.

Lanfranc Air Crash Memorial. 9th August 1961. Thirty four pupils and two teachers of Lanfranc Secondary Modern School, Croydon, were killed when the Viking airliner they were flying in crashed while making the approach to the Sola Airport near Stavanger, Norway; they had been travelling to a camping holiday. The mass grave contains thirty four of the victims, buried together in Croydon Cemetery.

Lanfranc Air Crash Memorial. 9th August 1961. Thirty four pupils and two teachers of Lanfranc Secondary Modern School, Croydon, were killed when the Viking airliner they were flying in crashed while making the approach to the Sola Airport near Stavanger, Norway; they had been travelling to a camping holiday. The mass grave contains thirty four of the victims, buried together in Croydon Cemetery.

Croydon Cemetery was opened in 1876. It contains 195 scattered war graves of the First World War, most of them of local men. Some of the 150 Second World War burials form a small war graves plot in the Thornton Heath Extension. This is seen here together with the war memorial. As is so common elsewhere, they are beautifully kept in the manner of the war cemeteries in France and Belgium. Close by is the Archbishop Lanfranc School memorial to the Stavanger Air Crash of 1961 - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3033847

On 9 August 1961 a Vickers Viking operated by Cunard Eagle Airways (later British Eagle) crashed into a mountain near Holta on the approach to Stavanger Airport in Norway from Heathrow with the deaths of all 39 on board: 3 crew, 34 schoolboys from The Archbishop Lanfranc School in Thornton Heath, plus two members of staff from the school. Many of the group, flying to a camping holiday in the Norwegian highlands, had never flown before. The Norwegian report on the incident concluded that the pilot was off-course for unknown reasons. This is the memorial and burial place for 33 of the boys and one of the teachers. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14444295 and http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10077.those_aboard_fatal_flight_rembered/

Remembering the 34 boys and two teachers who died in an air crash near Stavanger, Norway 09-08-1961 whilst on a school trip. The memorial has been cleaned up ready for the 50th anniversary.