Air Commodore Charles Widdows’ widow, Nickie, at yesterday’s memorial service. (0920137)

A FLY-PAST from a Eurofighter Typhoon marked the end of a memorial service for the life of Air Commodore Charles Widdows yesterday.

About 100 people attended St Andrew’s Parish Church for the service for the longest surviving Battle of Britain pilot, who died in Guernsey, aged 100, on 8 January.

People gathered outside afterwards to see a flypast from the fighter from 29 Squadron, of which Air Commodore Widdows was once the commanding officer.

His son, Robin, said it was a proud day for the whole family.

‘The beautiful thing is that the young pilot is so proud to be doing it and he said people rarely get the chance to do flypasts in memory of former commanding officers,’ he said.

The Lt-Governor, Sir Fabian Malbon, represented His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the service while Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland read the lesson.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.