A charity supported by a £30,000 Veterans’ Foundation grant has helped three Second World War veterans fulfil an extraordinary dream …. taking to the skies in iconic Spitfires.
Veterans Paul Terry, Alf Cooley and Ivan Staines, each recently flew in a separate Spitfire operated by Fly A Spitfire at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.
The flights were financed through a dedicated Taxi Charity fund established to make the wishes of WWII veterans come true.
The Veterans’ Foundation grant supports the vital work of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, contributing towards the fuel and running costs that keep its volunteer London cab drivers on the road.
The charity helps veterans from all conflicts attend commemorations, reunions, social events and special trips, while creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences wherever possible.
For lifelong Spitfire enthusiast Alf, it was an unforgettable moment.
“I was absolutely blown away,” he said.
“The experience was something I will remember for the rest of my life and I never thought that one day I would be flying in my favourite plane… the Spitfire.”
For Paul, who remembers watching dogfights over London as a teenager before serving as a rifleman, the experience brought back powerful memories.
“From watching the dogfights rage over London as a teenager, to spending the war as a rifleman with my feet planted firmly on terra firma, finally getting up into the sky in a Spitfire brought everything full circle.”
Ivan described his flight as 'an amazing experience that I never expected to get,’ adding: “I am absolutely over the moon.”
The charity now hopes to create the same unforgettable experience for another WWII veteran, with five volunteers taking on the Thames Bridges Trek in September to raise funds for another Spitfire flight.
The Taxi Charity supports veterans from all conflicts, arranging trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, as well as days out to museums, concerts and social events across the UK.
Where possible, the charity also seeks to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for veterans and make their wishes come true.
Keely Allen, Trustee and Fundraising Officer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “Seeing Paul, Alf and Ivan take to the skies in three Spitfires has been an incredibly moving and proud moment for everyone involved.
"These iconic aircraft played such an important part in the story of their generation, so to see them flying in one is something very special.
“We are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped make these flights possible.
"But we don’t want these three veterans to be the last.
"In September, four of our volunteers will be joining me to take on the Thames Bridges Trek, with the aim of raising enough money to give another WWII veteran the opportunity to experience the unforgettable thrill of flying in a Spitfire.
"We hope people will get behind us and help us make another veteran’s dream come true.”
The Taxi Charity is now looking ahead to its next fundraising challenge. In September, Keely and four fellow volunteers will take on the Thames Bridges Trek, hoping to raise enough money to put another WWII veteran in the cockpit of a Spitfire.
The charity is calling on supporters to get behind the team and help make another veteran’s dream come true. www.justgiving.com/campaign/help-the-taxi-charity-to-put-another-veteran-in-a-spitfire.
