Spitfire dream comes true for 89-year-old John
A "massive fan" of the RAF saw his dream come true when he got the chance to sit in the cockpit of a Spitfire.
John Negus, who will soon be celebrating his 90th birthday, enjoyed a trip to the RAF Museum in Cosford, Shropshire, organised by the care home where he is a resident.
It came after staff at The Haven in Metheringham, near Lincoln, asked their residents what they would like to do in 2025.
Donald Merryweather, whose brother was shot down during the Battle of Britain, also went along for the day.
Sadie Langton, the care home's activity co-ordinator, said John "absolutely loved it".
"He walked the whole way round, and climbed in and out of the cockpit as if he was 21," she added.
John had originally requested a flight in a Spitfire but was more than happy to sit in the cockpit and salute.
He comes from an RAF family and is "just a massive fan", Ms Langton said.
"I think he practically ran the whole way round – stopping just briefly for a quick sandwich.
"We took Donald as well – his brother, who was a rear gunner, was shot down at the age of 20 in a Wellington during the Battle of Britain.
"The Wellington exhibition was closed, but we fluttered our eyelashes and they let us in to see [it] as well."
Ms Langton said the trip happened after residents were asked what they would like to do in 2025 ahead of New Year celebrations at the care home.
"We had quite a lot of big ones," she said.
"We are going to try to work our magic as much as we can."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
'Privilege' to fly in Battle of Britain Air Show
Museum's extension plan to tell story of female pilot
Largest Spitfire gathering held in museum
RAF Museum
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'The Day of The Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
Prolific British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who instantly became a global bestselling author when his book "The Day of the Jackal" was published in 1971, died on Monday aged 86, his literary agents Curtis Brown said. Forsyth famously penned his most famous work about a fictional assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by right-wing extremists in just 35 days after falling on hard times. "The Jackal" went on to be made into a hit film starring Edward Fox as the assassin. A Netflix remake last year with Eddie Redmayne in the lead role was released last year. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," his agent Jonathan Lloyd said. Forsyth died at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness, according to Curtis Brown. The former journalist and pilot wrote over 25 books including "The Odessa File" (1972) and "The Dogs of War" (1974) and sold over 75 million copies worldwide. Many of his novels were also turned into films. "Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life ... and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived," said Lloyd. "After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra (in Nigeria)," he said. - 'Spectacular luck' - "Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, 'The Day Of The Jackal'," he added. A sequel to "The Odessa File", entitled "Revenge Of Odessa", on which he worked with thriller writer Tony Kent, is due to be published in August, his publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said. "His journalistic background brought a rigour and a metronomic efficiency to his working practice and his nose for and understanding of a great story kept his novels both thrillingly contemporary and fresh," Scott-Kerr added. Forsyth attributed much of his success to "luck", recalling how a bullet narrowly missed him while he was covering the bloody Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970. "I have had the most spectacular luck all through my life," he told The Times last November in an interview. "Right place, right time, right person, right contact, right promotion -- and even just turning my head away when that bullet went past," he said. Asked why he had decided to give up writing -- although he later went back to it -- he told AFP in 2016 he'd "run out of things to say". "I can't just sit at home and do a nice little romance from within my study, I have to go out and check out places like Modagishu, Guinea Bissau, both hellholes in different ways," he said. Forsyth had two sons by his first wife. His second wife, Sandy, died last year. Conservative MP David Davis paid tribute to his friend as a "fabulous wordsmith". He told Sky News that Forsyth "was a great believer in the old values -– he believed in honour and patriotism and courage and directness and straightforwardness, and a big defender of our armed forces". bur-har/jkb/ach
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Days of Our Lives' Filmed John Black's Funeral While Actor Drake Hogestyn Was on His Deathbed: ‘He Understood That This Is a Story Fans Would Want to Be Told' (EXCLUSIVE)
'Days of Our Lives' fans, get out a box of tissues, because you are going to need them this week. Beginning Monday, the citizens of the mythical town of Salem, Ill., lay to rest and mourn the death of John Black, who succumbed to injuries in a lab explosion. Although that in itself is worth plenty of tears, it's the passing of Drake Hogestyn, who played him for 40 years, last September at 70 from pancreatic cancer that adds the real heartbreak to this already emotional scenario. To add even greater pathos, John's death and subsequent funeral were shot while Hogestyn was still alive as he was dying. Executive producer Ken Corday approached Hogestyn's family and got permission to bring John's story to an end this way, and they signed off on it. 'Drake, as the consummate storyteller that he is, said, 'Absolutely. You gotta tell the story,'' Eric Martsoff, who played his son Brady, tells Variety. 'Drake knew what he was facing. He understood that this is a story fans would want to be told. So Drake graciously said, yes, let's do it. But knowing that this man was on the planet, and we were literally taping his funeral and his death, that was hard. It was really hard.' More from Variety Billy Flynn on His 'Days of Our Lives' Exit After 10 Years and Moving to 'Young and the Restless': 'It Made Me the Person I Am Today' (EXCLUSIVE) Francisco San Martin, 'Days of Our Lives' and 'Jane the Virgin' Actor, Dies at 39 Mark Withers, Television Actor on 'Dynasty,' Dies at 77 The filming of his funeral took three full days, and Hogestyn died the following weekend. 'There was literally zero acting going on during those three days,' Martsoff says. 'Everyone was holding hands to the point where our hands were getting white.' Martha Madison, who played John's daughter, Belle, said it was all very real for the cast and crew. 'For us, it felt like our responsibility and an honor to do it the very best that we knew how,' she says. 'The fact that we were losing Drake at the same time, it was very hard on us emotionally, as we're losing someone we really love. We didn't really have to perform. It wasn't like we were having to dig for anything. It was just all right there.' In a way, it was a beautiful release for everybody on set those days, because of the collective sentiment of, 'We Love you, and we're gonna miss you.' Madison says, 'None of us were able to really see him or be with him towards the end. This was our opportunity to do it as a family, and do it together. And I thought it was so beautifully written — all of the flashbacks and really honoring his whole 40-year career on that show. It was all just very special.' In these exclusive videos, John's family gathers to pay their last respects at his funeral. There, Marlena (played by soap legend Deidre Hall) flashes back to her and John's wedding where she says they think of their family as a garden: 'Each child is unique, beautiful, cherished in their own way.' The couple symbolically builds a 'bouquet' of their family, with each child represented by a flower. Back in present day, each of their children lay their flower beside candles and a memorial photo as a sign of their eternal love. Speaking about Hogestyn brings Madison to tears: 'I just looked up to him so much, and I admired everything about him — his deep commitment to his work and to his family, his joy and playfulness and his ability to bring people together.' Her voice cracks. 'I just admired him so much, and I don't think that he was even aware of the impact that he was having on all of us.' Among the speeches eulogizing John is Marstoff's Brady, who says that his father could be summed up in one word: eyebrow. 'My dad had many, many skills — spy craft, martial arts, baseball. But I think the use of his eyebrow was perhaps his single greatest asset, not only was it effective, but extremely versatile.' Anyone who has watched 'Days of Our Lives' knows exactly what he's talking about: Hogestyn had an ability to raise one eyebrow to express everything from curiosity to consternation. 'Eric's speech that he gives at the memorial is both touching and funny, and I think that is something that Drake, as a person, would enjoy,' Madison says. 'I don't think that he would want us sitting around crying all day, even though people like me couldn't stop. I think he would want this to feel more celebratory, because he was very celebratory of his own life and how lucky he was to have this beautiful job and beautiful family. I think he would want us to honor that. I think that's what you see in Eric's monologue. It's really perfect.' Marstoff says he 'lost a father figure' when Hogestyn died. 'Drake and I were buddies. He usually started the day with a story. He just had so many life experiences. I mean, he was a Yankee at one point, for God's sake!' he says, referring to Hogestyn's pre-acting career as a professional baseball player. 'Fans should tune in because we're going to say goodbye to one of the most iconic men ever to hit daytime television. He was the epitome of a soap opera star on and off the stage, and the man deserves eyeballs, and he deserves that tribute.' Best of Variety 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Days of Our Lives Preview: John Black's Funeral Brings Everyone Together in Grief and, Believe It or Not, Laughter
The time has come to say farewell to John Black on Days of Our Lives. Family and friends pay John one final goodbye in what is sure to be a tear-jerker of a week. Look for several familiar faces to return, some of whom you can spot in the preview below. John Black defined heroism and romance for over forty years on Days of our Lives and daytime in general. Indeed, he died a hero, helping to procure the formula that saved Bo Brady's life. As Bo was reunited with his wife and children, Marlena and her children were forced to say goodbye to John. More from Days of Our Lives Preview: Salem Gathers to Pay Their Respects to Fallen Hero John Black [Photos] Everyone gathers to remember John, especially his love of baseball, which gives them fond memories to help heal. But John was known for more than baseball. He was a cop, a businessman, a hero, a father, and a lover. John had a complicated past. He came to Salem as The Pawn and then spent many years believing he was Roman Brady, thanks to Stefano's brainwashing. For over two decades, John's search for his family ended with him finally finding his roots and his father, Timothy Robicheaux. One thing is certain: there will never be another John Black, and that's a fact! Read the Days of Our Lives spoilers to find out who refuses to follow orders, and what Xander and Sarah clash over. Want to know what will go down on all five soaps next week? Check out our extensive, preview-packed gallery for all the details! Video: Days of Our Lives/Facebook
