Events

The life and times of John Smythe QC, MBE, OBE

1st Apr 2025 6pm

Greenwich Campus

Cooper Building, Powerhouse King William Walk, SE10 9JH

We are delighted to announce the rescheduled date for The Life and Times of John Smythe, QC, MBE, OBE this coming April, as told by his son Eddy Smythe.

This event will take place to coincide with the date the Royal Air Force was founded, 107 years ago. Come to hear the incredible story of Flight Officer Johnny, as he was known by, who was one of only 60 Africans to join the RAF. Johnny was shot down and captured on a mission over Germany and after 18 months in a prisoner of war camp would return to the UK to later play a pivotal role in the inception of the Windrush Generation.

Please note that the event has a registration fee of £2.

About John Smythe

John Henry Clavell Smythe QC, MBE, OBE (1915–1996) was a Sierra Leonean Royal Air Force officer during World War II and barrister.

He was born a Sierra Leone Creole into the British Empire and served as a navigation officer in the Royal Air Force. After liberation as a prisoner of war and returning to Britain, he was a role model to those in the beginning of the Windrush Generation. He retrained as a lawyer, returned to his birthplace, and served as Attorney General of Sierra Leone.

This event forms part of the University of Greenwich Global Majority Alumni Community (GMAC) event programme which shares the stories and life of individuals from the global majority who have left a lasting impactGMAC is a space for alumni who identify as part of the global majority to share, learn, and foster relationships. Join the mailing list to find out more.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at aft-events@gre.ac.uk.

Who should attend?

ALUMNI, CURRENT STUDENTS, STAFF

BOOKING REQUIRED