FLYING HERO

Mr. Charles Leach writes, “I have been researching the story of Flight Lieutenant Norman Carter Macqueen DFC RAFVR (1920-1942). Originally his was a Midlands family. He and his brothers went to Southlawn School in Brighton Road, Rhyl. Their father, Dr. Joseph Gordon Macqueen, was a GP at Clarence House Surgery in Russell Road, from 1930-1959.”

When World War 2 began, young Norman (pictured above) joined the RAF and served gallantly for nearly three years. He was killed in action on May 4th 1942 and buried in Kilkara Cemetery, Malta.

The colour photo was taken a couple of days ago by Yours Truly and shows the former Southlawn School. The building is 57 Brighton Road opposite the entrance to Y Gorlan; at present it is being converted into flats.

At some time Southlawn School had been a girls' school, and it is believed to have been located in West Parade before Brighton Road.

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FRI 27th AUG 2010 UPDATE: Mr. Leach has undertaken further research and written to say that Lieutenant Macqueen did not attend Southlawn School, Rhyl, he went to prep school in Edinburgh.
Hey-ho, Mr Leach.

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FRI 14th SEP 2018: The following picture postcard of Southlawn School is likely to be from the 1930s:

The card is addressed to Miss J. (Joan) Fry of a house named Glan Aber in Pendyffryn Road, Rhyl. The sender is P. Mansfield whose handwriting suggests another female of the species; she may have been a music teacher at Southlawn School.
Whether in this context the phrase band practise should be spelt as band practice is a matter upon which you can reflect in idle moments.

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6720. Two additional images added here in June 2020 (front and rear of same postcard):

Names to note on this 1931 item: Miss Beales and (Miss Mansfield again).

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