Together and with our parent body support, I very much hope we can get this important
recognition of Herbert’s life.
Best wishes,
Richard Lynn, Headmaster
VOTE FOR HERBERT! Click here.
Herbert Ernest Black was born on June 12 1914 at Measham and Gwen Cuthbert on August
8th that year at Ibstock
When Bert was a few weeks old he was taken to Ibstock, where his father became landlord
of the
Wagon and Horses. His father was a rural district councillor and later the village
postmaster.
Gwen spent her early life on High Street where her fa:her owned a shop.
Bert and Gwen went to the same village school, passed their grammar school scholarship
together,
were confirmed at the same ceremony at St Deny's Church, and one joined the Scouts,
the other the Guides.
Bert cycled each day to the Dixie Grammar School at Market Bosworth, where he excelled,
especially at sports, playing for the school's cricket team.
Gwen attended Coalville Grammar School, again excelling.
Bert and Gwen played in the same team, which represented the county at mixed hockey.
Bert studied to be a weights and measures inspector, based at Coalville, while Gwen
qualified to be a teacher. The pair were inseparable and in love.
In 1939 Bert joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, receiving training on
Tiger Moth aircraft at Desford.
World War II started that year, and early in 1940 Sgt. Pilot Herbert Black was posted
to 226
Squadron in France.
When our forces withdrew from France, Bert eventually returned to Desford, but not
before flying
over Caldecote Road School in Leicester where Gwcn was teaching.
At 7 am on June 17 1940, Bert threw a pebble at Gwen 's bedroom window to wake her.
They
dashed to Leicester to obtain a special licence, and were married that afternoon
at St. Deny’s Church.
The happy couple spent the following four days of Bert’s leave on honeymoon in Matlock.
That summer of 1940, the RAF had only 286 Spifires and 463 Hurricanes to defend the
United Kingdom.
