On Monday the 31 st October 2011 Cadets, Staff and members of the Civilian Committee had the honour to join family and friends and hundreds of RAF service men and women at the memorial of a dedicated and inspirational Red Arrows pilot with an 'infectious smile.' Flt Lt Jon Egging, an ex Cadet from 2028 Squadron, died in August while completing a Red Arrows display at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Around 1,000 people joined his wife Dr Emma Egging and his Mother, Dawn at Lincoln Cathedral to remember the pilot. Jon's Red Arrows team mates also attended the service, along with TV presenter Carol Vorderman and Queen star Brian May, who had flown with Flt Lt Egging and the team before his untimely death.

The Cadets and staff had been specifically invited by Emma and Dawn to be at the Memorial Service which everyone found very humbling. The memorial brought to a close a difficult few months not only for Jon's family but for the Cadets, Staff and Civilian Committee who had the pleasure of welcoming him back to the Squadron on July the 28th this year, an evening everyone who met Jon will always remember. Hearing the sad news a matter of weeks later on the 20 th August 2011 that he had died, devastated everyone. But welcoming his Mother Dawn, to the Squadron on the 3 rd October raised everyone's spirits once more when she spent time thanking those present for giving Jon the start of a life he always wanted to lead.

After the Service a fly past of the Red Arrows flew over the Cathedral, a fitting end to a special day of remembrance but also of celebration of an Ex Cadet who had succeeded in his ambition to join the Royal Air Force and for a short time be ‘Red 4' in the Red Arrows.

Flight Lieutenant Moreton, Officer Commanding 2028 Squadron, together with Flt Lt Woan, Squadron 2/ic remarked, “Jon was a very special person, with an infectious smile and zest for life, we will always remember him walking up the pathway to the Squadron entrance grinning broadly and so pleased to be ‘home.' We hope to erect a Memorial to Jon at the Squadron in the New Year, a fitting reminder of a wonderful human being.”

View More Images of the Memorial Service for Flt Lt Jon Egging