Andrew Cresswell & Lashenden Air Warfare Museum

[Trevor Matthews]

Following the unfortunate murder of aviation archaeologist & collector Andrew Cresswell on the night of 10th/11th November 2008, his family have donated his entire collection to the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum in line with Andrew’s previously stated wishes.

The collection of several thousand items ranging from buttons to engines, some of which have been on display at the museum for the last 8 years, will be kept together within the museum as the Andrew Cresswell Collection, dedicated to his memory.

The collection has been moved to the museum over the last few weeks & is now undergoing cataloguing prior to conservation & display preparation work.

In accordance with Andrew’s wishes that the museum should make a donation to animal charities in exchange for receiving the collection, the Friends of the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum will be organising several fund raising events for animal charities over the next few years.

The museum is proposing to unveil a memorial to Andrew at the museum in May 2009 (date & details to be confirmed), they will also be instigating the Andrew Cresswell Memorial Award which will be awarded annually to a member of the Friends of the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum for their services to the museum.

The museum would like to thank Andrew’s sister & brother for donating the collection to the museum & his uncle for his help in moving the collection.

[Andy Saunders]

RIP Andy.

Just on the off-chance that anyone reading Trevor's thread knew Andy Cresswell I might just mention that his funeral will be at Charing Crematorium this Friday, 13th Feb, at 11.20. Immediately prior to the service, weather permitting, a Spitfire flypast is scheduled to take place over the Crematorium.

[Brian]

Hi Trevor/Andy

Please excuse my ignorance, but who was Andy Cresswell? And what were the circumstances surrounding his murder?

Brian

[Andy Saunders]

Andy had been involved with many of the SE-England based museums and recovery groups since the early 1980's and was very well known in those cirlces.

The circumstances of his death were that he was brutally murdered when he apparently disturbed a bungled robbery or, possibly, confronted his killers as the crime was in progress at the yard in Kent where he ran a transport cafe. He was very well liked, well known in the area generally and well known and respected by many in his area of historic aviation activity. He was inoffensive, likeable and also a gentle soul. So far nobody has been charged with his murder which has been given a degree of media attention in the SE area (Kent & Sussex) but possibly not more widely than that. Sadly, such is the nature and frequency of such crimes in this country now that murders very often go almost unreported nationally and, sometimes, don't even make the front pages of local (let alone national!) newspapers.

[Brian]

Thanks Andy.

Should you be in contact with his family, please offer my condolences.

Yes, I agree, we are living in an undeniably violent society. Thankfully, my part of the country remains relatively free of such acts.

Cheers
Brian