Pilot Officer, RAFVR
Born: April 23rd 1916
Died: January 1st 1941
Age at Death: 24
Killed at Bircham Newton, January 1st 1941
House Prefect 1933
School Prefect 1935
Head of House 1935
3rd 15 1934-35
1st 8 fives 1935
Father - C.B. Allen, Director of Music
Address - 26 East Drive, Kemptown, Brighton
John Allen was born on 23 April 1916 to Charles Allen and his wife Mary (née Buttemer). They lived in Kemptown, close to the College, where his father was Director of Music, and where John became Head of House. His elder brother, David, taught Maths at the College for many years. After leaving John joined the Gestetner Company, based in north London, which sold duplicating machines.
During the war he served with the RAF, and was based at RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk. On New Year’s Day 1941 his aircraft hit a barn wall and crashed while taking off for a transit flight. A fellow Old Brightonian, Henry Featherstone, was on the same flight. An obituary in the school magazine noted with regret:
He was deservedly popular and his many friends will mourn the loss of an attractive personality and sterling character.
Allen is buried at Brighton Downs Cemetery.