Angels in the City

The Christmas lights in Piccadilly are Angels twinkling over the shoppers and traffic below. How beautiful they are and for me a reminder that we all need protecting.

Travelled up to London this evening for a get together at the RAF Club for aviation charity fly2help. Enjoyed catching up with fellow volunteers and friends, although none of us enjoyed the utter tube chaos.

A 16 year old young lady made a speech about how winning a scholarship at Oxford Airport with the charity's Aim High Programme has given her the confidence to pursue her ambition to become a commercial airline pilot. Not only is her chosen career path enviable but her aptitude in public speaking earned her several rounds of applause.

I'm so honoured to be part of this amazing charity which is now in its 10th year. Changing lives one flight at a time applies to the volunteers as much as it does our beneficiaries.

The scholarship student asked what can they teach us? 'How to communicate with teenagers' she said. Another volunteer offered 'how to work smart phones' in jest then added 'the opportunity to look outside our own lives'.

I would have to agree that reflecting on the troubles others are suffering and how small efforts can make a huge difference is the most sobering of thoughts. For this pilot it is a good way of staying 'grounded' in the philosophical sense and protects us from becoming too self absorbed.

Looking forward to an exciting year ahead in 2017 with the charity.