The painting of the Sunderland flying boat and the Aquitania by Edgar Hodges.

The Portcullis Club in Kenley has a stunning new painting taking pride of place on the wall, thanks to the generosity of well-known artist and illustrator, Edgar Hodges. The painting is of a Sunderland flying boat over the English Channel with the Cunard liner, Aquitania, converted to a wartime troop carrier, below. It was spotted by Edgar’s friend and Kenley RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) member, Graham Smith, who said he felt quite ‘spooked’ when he first saw it. Graham said: “Although I loved the painting, my two oldest friends both indirectly featured in the painting. My friend Geoff Aspinwall was in Coastal Command during WW2 and Art Schmitz, an American GI, came over on the Aquitania in 1944. “I asked Edgar to offer me first refusal if he ever sold it because I would like to acquire it for Kenley RAFA and he very kindly said he would let me have it for free.” The artist, Edgar Hodges, said: “Graham has given me an opportunity in some tiny way to give back to those who gave so much. I feel honoured that anything of mine is looking down on a splendid set of people, those we should be grateful to.”