Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Jon’s ‘ambition to inspire’ lives on, says widow
THE widow of a Red Arrows pilot who died ten years ago during a Bournemouth Air Festival display believes he continues to be an inspiration to this day, thanks to the support of the people of Dorset.
Dr Emma Egging, the widow of Flt Lt Jon Egging, was this year awarded an OBE for the trust that she has established in her late husband’s name.
The Jon Egging Trust, which she affectionately names JET, aims to give opportunities to young people and inspire them to find a constructive path in life. Despite their highly successful titles of doctor and flight lieutenant, she says both she and Jon were not without their own childhood challenges.
“Jon was a really inspiring person but he had a few people that believed in him at the right point in his life and gave him that confidence,” she said.
She added: “He was really good at supporting the team, so he was a strong leader, but he also knew that without a team you can’t
achieve. So when he died, literally 10 years ago, I knew there was so much I could do in his name and was really motivated to take his ambition to inspire, engage and support. To make sure that it didn’t just reach out to a few young people but it went large.”
Speaking at the launch of the Bournemouth Air Festival 2021 this week, Dr Egging, CEO of JET, is taking on 10 challenges in the name of the trust to mark the 10 years since the Red Arrows accident.
One of those is trying to conquer her own childhood anxiety.
She said: “I was not a good swimmer at school, I was in the bottom group and I went through life thinking I can’t swim. One of our trustees said he would join me if I swam and so I said yes.
“Actually I swam two and a half miles in the most stunning location and it’s that mindset change I think. Changing the mindset from ‘I’m not good, I can’t’ to ‘I can and I will’.”
Speaking alongside Dr Egging, 17-year-old JET youth ambassador Hayden Corney, from Ferndown, reflected on a need for greater signposting of youth career training and skills development across Dorset.
Hayden said: “Three years ago I would say I was shy, I didn’t talk very much and I wouldn’t put my hand up in class.
“Now, I’m completely different. I’ll speak to anyone. I put my hand up lots and I do all of this public speaking now.
“It’s been quite the journey. I didn’t think that I really fully realised it until now, looking back on it all going, ‘Wow, I really changed’.
“I’m very proud of myself. I feel that self-worth and self-confidence because of the trust. I wouldn’t have been able to feel like this before that.”
Dr Egging reflected on how the support of Dorset residents and organisations has been central to the formation of the student support programme.
The Red Arrows are performing at the Bournemouth Air Festival until tomorrow, with displays each day at 3pm.
On their opening day they flew a heart tribute in honour of Jon and the RAF Trust.
When Jon died, literally 10 years ago, I knew there was so much I could do in his name DR EMMA EGGING