We were all extremely saddened to learn that our former player George Dunn has passed away aged 103. He was able to join us as a special guest in the Royal Box at Wembley last May and enjoy the FA Vase win with us. He has kept in touch and was hoping to visit the club for our end of season celebrations, until very recently becoming unwell.

George was born in Whitstable, attended the local school and played in their football team.

George was 16 when war broke out in 1939 and decided to volunteer for the RAF at the age of 18 after watching the Battle of Britain in the skies over Kent during 1940. He flew his first tour from May to October 1943. George was a Bomber Command pilot who completed 44 operations during World War II in Halifax bombers and Mosquitos. He took part in the Battle of the Ruhr and the Battle of Hamburg. As a 20 year old Halifax captain, he participated in the bombing raid against the German secret weapon research station at Peenemunde. He later also flew Spitfires.

After the war he played for Broomfield and in 1947 joined Whitstable Football Club where he played centre forward. He was a member of the Whitstable team that won Kent League Division 2 in 1949-50 and the team then accepted the invitation to play in Division 1 the following season.

His work took him away from Whitstable, but whenever he returned to visit his family in the town, secretary/manager Les Shingleston always found him a place in the team.

More recently, George lived near Brighton and, in addition to writing about his experiences with Bomber Command and featuring in TV programmes, he still followed Whitstable Town with great interest.

He made a great impression on everyone when we met him at Wembley and also on a later visit to watch the team play at home. We will all miss him.