Flying Officer Clifford Reeve
Clifford was a regular in Drummonds crew, he was there the first time Drummonds 'Goblin' took to the skies and he was there on that fateful morning of the 11th April 1942. An ever present and a man on who's skill the crew would rely on more than one occasion.
Below Clifford leans casually on a car door, whilst the second photograph shows him with his brother Gordon, who served with the Army.
Following his release from RAF Hospital Ely Clifford was sent to the old TGWU Convalescent home known as The Grange, Littleport. It was whilst he was here that he and his fellow recovering airmen heard the news on the BBC 1 o'clock news that Clifford was to be awarded an MBE for his bravery on the 11th April 1942.
After returning to front line action Clifford joined the crew of Flight Lieutenant Ron Barr who was flying with 7 Squadron based at RAF Oakington. He flew only one raid with Barr's crew on the 1st September 1942 against the German city of Saarbrucken. He then left for other duties. Barr's Stirling was shot down on its next raid, Cliffords replacement baled out and survived, others were not as lucky. This is the entry from Cliffords log book.
REEVE WAY: Godmanchester Nature Reserve
A few years ago the Nature Reserve asked for suggestions of names for the various paths/walks around the reserve. I put forward a suggestion that one should be named after Flying Officer Clifford Reeve MBE in recognition of his bravery on the morning of the 11th April 1942. When the votes were counted almost every single one had put his name down on the nomination form. So the longest walk around the Reserve is now called Reeve Way. In 2015 his daughter Fiona and family came to take the walk named after her father. It was a dismal and cloudy day, but as we started the walk the sun broke through and the reserve came into its own.
