Small planes, big cheque (From York Press)

Small planes, big cheque

10:33am Saturday 21st October 2006 in

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MODEL aircraft enthusiasts from the British Model Flying Association returned to Castle Howard to present a cheque for £900 to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

The money was raised at an event at the stately home last month, when the modellers displayed replica Spitfires and Hurricanes to mark the 66th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain.

Organiser Andy Symons said the idea to raise money for the fund came about when his grandfather left some money to charity in his will.

"I thought that rather than donate the money, a better idea would be to use it to buy things to sell. That way we could raise even more. One of the best sellers on the day at Castle Howard were bacon sandwiches, which sold at 50p a go. I brought £40 of bacon with me and that produced £140 profit," said Andy.

Gordon Warburton, aged 73, of Leeds, took his Taylorcraft BC12D back to Castle Howard to show staff before presenting the cheque.

The aircraft is a former national scale model championship winner, and Flight Lieutenant Jamie Bevan, of 207 Squadron, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, who came along to receive the cheque on behalf of the fund, was curious to find out more about it.