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By JOSEPH LOCKER joseph.locker@reachplc.com @joelocker96
“IT is a boyhood dream,” says 51-year-old Alistair Williams, who is one of the lucky few you might spot cutting through the skies around East Midlands Airport in some of the Second World War’s most iconic aircraft.
Mr Williams is a test pilot for RollsRoyce, and his job is to make sure these prestigious planes are in tiptop shape.
Tucked away behind the scenes at East Midlands Airport is a hangar owned by Rolls-royce, and within it sits a Supermarine Spitfire and its North American counterpart, the P-51 Mustang.
Mr Williams’ aircraft is the P-51, a long-range fighter which was developed in just 100 days to be exported to Britain in the 1940s.
It proved an invaluable aircraft to the Allied victory in the Second World War and later served in the Korean War, where it was eventually replaced by jet-powered planes.
But how did Mr Williams land his role as a test pilot for the powerful machine?
“I’m a lifetime aviator,” he told the Post.
“I left school at the normal age of 18 and I went into the military. I did not follow a normal path into the RAF, I joined the Army and flew helicopters. I flew the Lynx for about 10 years.
“From there I left in my late 20s and I joined Thomas Cook to fly a Boeing. I flew with them for about 10 years.
“I made the move into corporate aviation and worked for an engineering business, JCB in the Midlands, fixing aircraft for about 10 years.
“When I was in the Army I had a very fortunate career. I led the Blue Eagles Display Team for two seasons and at that point, I met a guy called Ray Hanna (a founding member of the Red Arrows), and that really sparked my interest in flying these kinds of aircraft.”
In 2015, Mr Williams left JCB and started work for Rolls-royce as a contractor, and from there he eventually joined the efforts for its Heritage Flight, before becoming an employee and getting the chance to fly both the T-6 Harvard and P-51.
There are now plans to create an operational heritage centre at the airport for schools, colleges and Rolls-royce apprentices, to help them understand the workings of the old technology and inspire future generations.
Speaking of just what it is like to fly the aircraft, including the P-51 which can reach speeds of more than 400mph, he said: “It is nothing short of remarkable.
“The difference between a Boeing and Mustang or Spitfire is that you are most certainly the pilot. It is exhilarating. In a modern jet, you are just a systems and energy manager.
“I used to fly the plane for 10 minutes in a passenger flight, but in a Mustang it is a different job.
“It is as close to flying as you can get. It is a privilege because we all recognise the history of what was behind these machines and what they participated in.
“There are five pilots. We are all ex-army, so we recognise the sacrifice before us.
“It is an active industry for those older machines, and we are at the forefront of flying and maintaining them.
“I’m 51. When I get in the Mustang I feel about 28.”
Mr Williams added the best place to spot him in the skies (roughly once every two weeks now due to the pandemic) is across Langar in Nottinghamshire and Rutland in Leicestershire.
ROLLS-ROYCE
Alistair Williams, 51, pictured next to a T-6 Harvard. Inset, above, The Spitfire in action and, below, Alistair in the P-51 ready for take-off
Pupil Hadleigh Spindley, nine, with mementos after children were the focus as William Gladstone C of E Primary Academy held a celebration day to mark the change of its name to The King’s C of E Primary Academy. Children took part in a virtual meeting with staff, governors and members of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Multi Academy Trust. Head teacher Sarah Clarke said: “The ceremony marks the start of a brand new chapter in the exciting story of our academy. We have come so far in such a short space of time and every day I see our Christian values of kindness, friendship and faith being lived out in the school community.” Children gave readings, performed The King’s Rap and heard from Nigel Frith (Diocesan Director Education) and Chris Moodie, CEO of the Diocese Southwell and Nottingham Multi Academy Trust. After the event children were given mementos of the day recognising the new school name and logo, and also received a scroll containing a pledge from the school.
Mansfield photographer Serena Lamb of Child Whisperer Photography Studio picked up a top award in a prestigious industry competition for her portrait photography skills. Serena won the Family Portrait category at The Xperience Group virtual awards ceremony. Mrs Lamb is one of 14 overall winners in this year’s awards, from more than 8,000 entries. Her subject, The Statham Family (inset), has won a beautiful wall portrait of their image worth more than £500. Mrs Lamb said she was “delighted”. “I just couldn’t believe it, I honestly had tears in my eyes. I love that I get to capture precious memories for my clients so to win this award doing what I love is just wonderful,” she added.
A new community and children’s park at the front of Edingley Old Schoolroom is now open. Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme gave £18,000 to the £36,000 project, match-funded by Edingley Parish Council after fund-raising efforts of residents. The park was opened by Alf Hall (inset right), who at 99 is the village’s oldest resident, as part of a socially-distanced event. Edingley Parish Council chair Diana Poole said: “We are delighted that the new community and children’s park is now opened. The park was blessed by Reverend Mary Foden Currie, with our oldest resident Alf Hall, aged 99, doing the honours by officially opening the park. Once opened, local children were seen playing on the equipment until it became dark!”
Stapleford Community Group volunteer Richard Macrae has been awarded Mansfield Building Society’s Community Star Award for 2020. Richard won for the work he did for the people of Stapleford last year, including collecting donations and delivering food parcels, organising job fairs and estate clear-ups, and even putting down sand bags to help residents at risk of flooding. Richard won £100 in Love2shop vouchers and a £250 donation to Stapleford Community Group. In addition, Amanda Hill from Clipstone Miners Welfare Community Trust was named runner-up, receiving the Society’s “Highly Commended” award for her tireless work running a number of community groups in Clipstone, including the local youth club which she runs with the help of her daughters.
Nottingham Forest player Tyler Blackett discusses children’s questions at Porchester Junior School as they joined forces to “Show Racism the Red Card”. Pupils work regularly with Aaron Cuttriss of Nottingham Forest Community Trust (NFCT) in their “Primary Stars” programme, keeping fit and gaining sports skills. So when they heard from Aaron that they were going to take part in a virtual meeting with some of football’s most gifted professionals, they took their preparation for discussions very seriously. During the Q&A, children were able to ask searching questions of Tyler Blackett, Jason Lee, David Kelly, Chris Iluwemo and Yassine En-neyah, and the topics covered were about equality and the campaign Show Racism the Red Card. Head teacher Julie Fidler said: “The children were absolutely delighted to take part in such an amazing event.” Pupil Ronnie Osborne, 11, said: “I asked if they think women should get equal pay in football because for me I think it is important that they do.”