This month sees the centenary of the first British flight which took place in the Lee Valley.

Flight pioneer Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe, working from a railway arch on  Walthamstow Marshes managed to get off the ground on 13 July 1909.

The anniversary was kept on Sunday 12 July in front of the arch when Eric Verdon- Roe unveiled an exact fully flyable replica of his grandfather’s Roe I Triplane. This was the first all British aeroplane.

The ground today is not suitable as a runway but there will be flights attempted at RAF Woodvale.

Look out for the blue plaque on the arch near by the towpath between Springfield Park and Lea Bridge.

See page 108.