A tiny museum dedicated to the memories of those magnificent men in their flying machines who pioneered British aviation has won a King Charles Award for Voluntary Service.
Eastchurch Aviation Museum on the Isle of Sheppey is one of 231 organisations to receive the award today (Friday, November 14) as part of King Charles’ birthday celebrations.
The museum is tucked away in the grounds of Standford Hill open prison on the site of a former RAF base.
But once visitors find it, they discover a treasure trove of memorabilia, photos and models telling incredible stories about the early days of flight.
It was on Sheppey, for instance, that John Moore-Brabazon won £1,000 from the Daily Mail by becoming the first Englishman to complete a one-mile circular flight in a powered heavier-than-air machine.
The daredevil feat was accomplished on October 30, 1909, in the Short Biplane No 2 built on the Island.
Four days later, as a joke, the pilot put a piglet dubbed Icarus II into a wastepaper basket, strapped it to a wing of his plane and took the startled porker on a flight to prove that ‘pigs could fly’.
Other pioneers on Sheppey included Charles Rolls, of Rolls Royce fame, and Lt Col Sir Francis ‘Frank’ McClean who flew his plane between the towers of Tower Bridge and under three other bridges along the Thames as a publicity stunt to show how important flying could be.
Peter West, the museum’s curator, said: “Sheppey has this incredible aviation heritage but so few people know about it. It is our mission to change all that.”
He said the award was an “immense accolade” for the volunteers who give their time for free.
He said: “Without their hard work, along with the support of our trustees and the curatorial and work teams, we would not have the success we do.”
Martin Hawkins, who chairs the trustees, said: “We are greatly honoured to receive this award. It belongs to everybody who works voluntarily at the museum.
“We are very fortunate to have such a talented and diverse team who bring a truly wide range of skills and knowledge.
“It is also an acknowledgment of our engagement with the community, through all our educational and outreach work. We couldn’t have done this without our volunteers.”
His wife Rosemary, who is secretary to the trustees, said: “This exciting news reflects our own ongoing gratitude to our wonderful volunteers, all of whom constantly give their very best to Eastchurch Aviation Museum and the community. We are so very lucky to have them.”
She added: “We would also like to add our thanks to officers and staff, both past and present, from HMP Standford Hill for all their help and support over the years.”
Museum manager Tony Downs and his wife Sue said: “It is such an honour to be recognised by the King for doing a task we love.
“Being a volunteer with Eastchurch Aviation Museum is a pleasure, working with lovely people to bring an amazing experience to the public. It also makes us feel proud that we are putting the very historic Isle of Sheppey on the map.”
Fellow volunteers Muriel and Peter Wood commented: “This was a very pleasant surprise and quite an honour. The hard work of the trustees to commemorate Sheppey’s connection to the birth of aviation and then make the museum part of the community has been rewarded.”
Model plane maker Kent Hurkett and his wife Pam said: “This is terrific news. This award makes all the hard work feel worthwhile.”
Volunteer Bob Turner added: “It is a huge honour for a small, all-be-it significant museum to receive this award. I am proud to be a part of the team.”
Roger Morgan Brown said: “I am really happy for being recognised for doing something I enjoy. But it goes deeper than that. It is about being able to tell people the history of our wonderful island and bringing its history to life.
“The joy in people’s faces after a tour, and inspiring children, brings me the greatest joy. But it is an honour to be appreciated by the King for what we do.”
The award, the equivalent of a corporate MBE, is made out to The Sheppey Heritage Trust Ltd which is the museum’s registered charity.
The museum, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this April (2025), was nominated by Richard Emmett and his wife Theresa from the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne.
The official notice reads: “His Majesty The King has approved the KAVS National Assessment Committee’s recommendation that the volunteers of Eastchurch Aviation Museum should receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) 2025.
“This represents a tremendous achievement and we hope that the group’s volunteers will feel immensely proud of it.”
It means the museum will be allowed to use the official KAVS logo, receive a signed certificate from His Majesty The King and a crystal award with the KAVS insignia and two of the team will be invited to a royal garden party next year.
More information on the recipients and the Award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/. Full details on how to nominate are available at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/. Nominations for the 2026 award opened on September 1, 2025.
Issued November 14, 2025, by: John Nurden 07831 486436
For more information: Peter West 07764 760918
Martin & Rosemany Hawkins 07547 861325
Note to editors: It was on Sheppey that the Short Brothers Oswald, Eustace and Horace built some of the first planes and opened the first aircraft factory between 1910 and 1917.
It was also on Sheppey that flying pioneer John Moore-Brabazon won £1,000 from the Daily Mail by becoming the first Englishman to complete a one-mile circular flight in a powered heavier-than-air machine. The daredevil feat was accomplished on October 30, 1909, in the Short Biplane No 2.
Four days later, as a joke, he put a piglet dubbed Icarus II in a wastepaper basket and strapped it to a wing of his plane to prove that ‘pigs could fly’.
Other pioneers on Sheppey included Charles Rolls, of Rolls Royce fame, and Lt Col Sir Francis ‘Frank’ McClean who flew his plane between the Tower Bridge towers and under three other bridges along the Thames in London as a publicity stunt to show how important flying could be.
A statue of him in flying hat and created by Guildford artist Barbara Street stands next to the new extension which is in the grounds of Standford Hill open prison.
She also created a statue of the three Short Brothers in 2009 at nearby Leysdown next to Muswell Manor which was the first home of the Aero Club which went on to become the Royal Air Force.
A new extension was opened in April 2025 and features a shop, reception area, cinema and large purpose-designed gallery with displays which chart the Island’s role as the birthplace of British aviation.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent Paul Auston said at the opening: “This museum is a stunning achievement for the community. All these volunteers have come together to bring history to life. This place is where aviation took off in the first place.
“It’s where the Royal Naval Air Service started from and above all, as much as British Airways might not want you to know about this, it’s the first place that cargo was carried – a pig in a basket – in 1909, hence the expression ‘pigs might fly’.”He added: “It’s a fascinating example of community engagement. It’s wonderful.”
