An annual memorial service was held on Sunday for a Battle of Britain pilot.

Roy Marchand died when the Hurricane he was flying was shot down and crashed into a field at Nouds Farm, Teynham, on September 15, 1940.

The 22-year-old, who served with the RAF’s 73 squadron, was buried in his native Bromley but in 1985 a stone memorial was moved to where he passed away.

Remembrance services have been held there on the nearest Sunday to his death since. This year, the day fell on the actual anniversary.

Rev Steve Lillicrap led the service while the chaplain of the Faversham branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, Rev Canon Struan Dunn, gave the address.

Pilot officer Marchand’s grandson Michael Ventura gave a reading in English and his nephew, Rene Marchand, gave a reading in French.

Branches of the Royal British Legion and the RAF attended as did air training corps’ cadets from Faversham and Canterbury. Mayor of Swale, Cllr Sue Gent, represented the borough.

Angela Simmons, secretary of the Faversham branch of the RAF, said: “It was quite a good turnout.

"I think it was because there are a lot of people who have been mourned all around the country and I think people feel the need to remember.

“It is a serious sort of service but everyone is pleased to see each other afterwards and they have a chat.”