Tourism chief supports campaign to bring Red Arrows to Yorkshire
A NORTH Yorkshire MP’s campaign to bring the Red Arrows to the county has been given a boost after winning the backing of an influential tourism chief.
Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, has thrown his weight behind the efforts of Richmond MP and Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak for the world famous aerobatic display team to be based at RAF Leeming when the team’s current base in Lincolnshire closes.
The RAF is currently in the process of selecting a new base for the Red Arrows following the decision announced in the summer to close their current home.
Mr Sunak said the Yorkshire base has several advantages over its rivals, with a “rich heritage” of hosting the RAF, including several Bomber Command bases during the Second World War.
Sir Gary said: “I fully support Rishi’s campaign to bring the Red Arrows to RAF Leeming. Everyone in Yorkshire would be immensely proud to host these great ambassadors for Britain and our Armed Forces.
“It would be a major boost for the North Yorkshire area in particular and a great honour to have the world’s premier aerobatic display team based in the county.”
Separately, Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Phil Roser, who headed up the base during its time hosting air defence Tornado F3s in the 1990s, said he believed RAF Leeming was a very good option for the Red Arrows and he had been “banging the drum” in support of the move.
He said: “It is a tremendous idea and I have been giving everyone I know the many good reasons, including those outlined by Mr Sunak, for the RedArrows to come to RAF Leeming.”