Lifetime dream

A lifetime dream is about to come true for Denis Blandford as he prepares to attend a Royal Garden Party marking 100 years of Naval Aviation.

The 74-year-old from Ferndown and his wife Joan have been invited by HRH Prince Andrew to the 100th anniversary of the Fleet Air Arm at Buckingham Palace on July 9.

Denis, who works as a bearer and driver for A E Jolliffe & Son Funeral Directors was a mechanic in the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm from 1952 till 1960.

He said: “My Naval career was a fantastic time – it took me around the world and made a man of me. There was the most tremendous sense of comradeship. Being invited to such a prestigious royal party to honour the Navy is the perfect conclusion to that career. It’s one of the best moments of my life – bettered only by my wedding day and the birth of my son.

“I hope to be able to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at the party – he had an esteemed naval career. But most of all I hope I’ll see some old friends from my Navy days.”

Denis, who has worked for A E Jolliffe & Son since 1969, left the Navy to focus on family life. He remains a member of the Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Association and plans to wear the association’s trademark green blazer to the Garden Party next month.

The Admiralty embarked on its programme for military aviation with an order for its first airship on May 7, 1909 – a decision that brought huge strategic advantages for the First World War. Various events to celebrate the centenary are taking place throughout the UK this summer.