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Poetry Plane 2025 – Your Part, Britain and N Ireland




The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

Your Part, Britain and N Ireland

The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust and the Poetry Postie (Sally Crabtree) have teamed to get the Poetry Plane off the ground in schools in England.  The Trust’s focus is in Essex where our aircraft and Simulator are based, and Sally’s focus is in Cornwall where she lives. Together, we are spreading the idea around the world in France, Germany, NZ, Australia, Canada and USA.  The Trust is making STEM simulator visits to primary schools at the rate of one per week.  Each visit includes half a day learning to write a WW1 Poem that we will drop at the Commemorations in N France on 1 Jul 25 and hopefully the Remembrance Service at the National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025.  Sally offers bespoke creative writing sessions for children. If you live nearby get in touch.

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – The People, Willie Harrison




The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The People – Willie Harrison

Willie Harrison learned to fly as a schoolboy in 1971 on an RAF Flying Scholarship. He subsequently joined Cambridge University Air Squadron and undertook two further years of training on De Havilland Chipmunk aircraft. He had been a keen private pilot since then, having accumulated over 2,000 hours of flight time in a variety of light aircraft. He regularly flies a vintage Tiger Moth, an historic Chipmunk and a modern Vans RV7. Willie is a retired mechanical engineer who had a career in industrial automation and robotics. He was responsible for developing the robotic system used for manufacturing fly-by-wire components for Airbus Aircraft. Willie has spent his retirement working for children’s charities and being a grandfather to his 9 grandchildren. 

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – The Planes, DH9 2025




The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The Planes – DH9 2025 De Havilland DH-9, E-8894 (G-CDLI)

The DH9 was discovered in a derelict state in an elephant house in Northern India. No-one knows how it came to be there. However, it was repatriated to the UK and restored by Aero Vintage, being returned to the sky about ten years ago. It is the only airworthy DH9 in the world. Its engine is a BHP Puma type. The engine is also unique in being the only airworthy engine of its type. The aircraft is based at The Imperial War Museum at Duxford and is regularly flown in air displays.

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – The Plan, The Poppy




The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The Plan, The Poppy

The Poppy  became a memorial flower for Britain and Norther Ireland, USA, and Canada out of the experiences in Northern France in WW1 immortalised in John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Field. Fields of poppies growing out of the devastation of the battlefields became symbolic of remembrance of lives lost in the service of one’s country.  As early as the Autumn of 1919, a French War Activist started selling silk poppies on 11 November of that Year and invited the British, American and Canadian Legions to adopt the poppy as their memorial flower.  

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – Your Part – France

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

Your Part – France

There are several leading lights leading on  getting more schools involved in the Poetry Plane. Please feel free to contact them directly if you want to get involved through them.

Celine.plantain@ac-lille.fr. Teacher at Hautmont College who has got 8 schools in France and 3 in Germany contributing to the Poetry Plane 25 already.

kiwilequesnoy@gmail.com. Jean-Philippe Froment, President of the Kiwi Association in Le Quesnoy. Jean-Philippe is organising the poem drop at Le Quesnoy and the writing of poems in Cambridge NZ which is twinned with Le Quesnoy.

l.manot@somme-tourisme.com. Lea is responsible for Remembrance Tourisme from Albert. She has been helping linking a school in Albert with one in Cornwall to work on WW1 poems and letters.

 

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – The People – Clive Denny

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The People – Clive Denny 

Clive Denney learned to fly on vintage Tiger Moth aircraft at the Cambridge Flying Group in 1981. He subsequently qualified as a display pilot, flying a wide variety of warbird and other historic aircraft, including WW2 Spitfires and Hurricane fighters, as well as unique examples of World War 1 planes such as the DH9. Clive is a regular on the airshow circuit, including at the renowned Duxford Air Show. He has accumulated over 3,000 hours of flight time. 

 Clive played a major role in the recovery and restoration of the “gate guardian Spitfires”, these being former RAF aircraft which had stood unused for many years at the entrance of RAF bases. These aircraft have now been restored to flying condition. When not flying or restoring historic aircraft, Clive participates in World War 2 commemorations in his Willys Jeep.”

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20

Poetry Plane 2025 – The Planes – DH9 1918

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The Plan – The Plane

The prototype Airco DH9 was a single-engine biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland during his time at the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco).  It was planned as a successor to the Airco DH4 as a bomber for use during the First World War. The prototype Airco DH9 (A7559) was a modified Airco-built DH4, which first flew in July 1917 at Hendon, North London.  It was powered by a six-cylinder, in-line 230hp BHP Adriatic engine, although throughout its life it was fitted with a multitude of differing engines. 

 The main external difference from the Airco DH4 was a change in the cockpit arrangement, in order to bring the pilot and observer closer together, rather than being separated by the fuel tank. This  improved communications enormously. To aid the switch in production from the Airco DH4 to the Airco DH9, the design utilised the wings and tail assembly from the Airco DH4, mounted onto a larger fuselage.

 As previously mentioned, a number of different engines were tried and fitted to the DH9, including (most commonly) the 230 hp Siddeley Puma and the 230hp Fiat A-12.  The 430hp Napier Lion engine was also fitted experimentally to a number of aircraft…. (With thanks from BAe Systems Heritage)

https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/airco-dh9—–

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20


Poetry Plane 2025 – The Plan – The Poems

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

The Plan – The Poems

The Poems are written by school children to capture their understanding of the sacrifice of WW1 and their hopes and optimism for the future grounded in this knowledge. The children are captivated by the symbolism of their words being flown to the sites to become flowers where so many fell.

The poem papers are coloured for the 3 seeds to be found in each one – red and blue (light and dark). The seeds (all EU approved) are for the Poppy, the Cornflower and Forget-Me-Not (Mysotas) which are the memorial flowers of UK, France and Germany.

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-20






Poetry Plane 2025 – Your Part

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

Your Part – Where ever you are in the World, you have a part to play – pass the details of the Poetry Plane on or get involved. To School Teachers particularly, this programme is massively popular with children. You can get guidance, lesson plans, and poem paper at the links below.  If you have a question, contact

 info@ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk. 

WW1AHT have 22 schools involved in Essex, UK, and the prospect of 20 more in the second half of 2025. Celine Plantain has 8 French Schools and 3 German schools joining in. Sally Crabtree is working on a school exchange from Cornwall and Albert on the Somme. Jean-Philppe Froment is President of the Kiwi Association in Le Quesnoy and is twinned with Cambridge New Zealand where children are writing poems.  Some countries cannot export their poems on seeded paper because of export restrictions – Australia for one. We have a growing number of schools in England and Europe who would like to pair up with Australian schools and will transcribe any poems written by them onto the poem paper.

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the project.

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf/the-poetry-plane-2025

Poetry Plane 2025 – The People

The Poetry Plane is about Remembrance – Lest We Forget.

Children from around the World will be writing poems in recognition of the sacrifice of the Great War, The poem papers will be seeded with  Memorial Flowers – the Poppy, the Cornflower and the Forget-Me-Not. We will be making 3 drops of poems written by children from around the World on 1 July 2025 at the Great War Somme Commemorations at Lochnagar Crater and Thiepval Memorial and at the Kiwi Memorial in Le Quesnoy.  We also hope to drop poems at the Remembrance Service at the UK National Memorial Arboretum on 9 November 2025. I will be explaining the Plan, the Planes, the People and your Part in the Programme over the next 3 months. 

Help us build a network to pass the word on. We seek to make the Poetry Plane an annual global act of Remembrance.

The People – In this section we will be telling you about the people involved in the Project. All of whom can be contacted for help and assistance. We will look at the back stories of:

The pilots – Clive Denny and Willie Harrison of the DH9 and the Tiger Moth respectively

The Twins – Ant and Ed Abery who deploy our WW1 SE5a simulator on our school visits and support out WW1 aeroplanes on the ground.

Celine Plantain who is our leading light in generating interest in the Poetry Plane in France.

Sally Crabtree who is the Poetree Poet.

Jean-Philppe Froment the President of the Kiwi Association in Le Quesnoy dedicated to the Kiwis who died in WW1 and particularly those who died liberating Le Quesnoy at the end of the War.

Dick Forsythe the Chief Trustee of WW1 AHT who is orchestrating the Trust’s part in the Poetry Plane.

Want to know more? Want to join in?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/ww1-poetry-registration/

Buy Poem Paper?

https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/seeded-paper/products/roamwild-seeded-paper

Download Lesson Plan, Video and Slideshow?

https://ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk/poetry-temporary-landing-page/

Help us fund the Programme

https://wwoneaviationheritage.enthuse.com/cf the-poetry-plane-2025