Hundreds join family to honour ‘passionate’ Red Arrow

Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, 33, died in August while taking part in a Red Arrows’ display at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

About 1,000 military service men and women, family and friends joined his wife Dr Emma Egging at a packed Lincoln Cathedral yesterday to remember the airman.

His Red Arrows team mates also attended, with TV presenter Carol Vorderman and Queen star Brian May, who had flown with Flt Lt Egging and the team before his death.

At the service his wife paid tribute to a loving husband dedicated to his family and his job. She told those gathered at the service that Jon “lived and breathed his passion for flying”.

“A great deal of what made Jon, was his commitment to serving and supporting others whether in his capacity as a husband, son, brother, as a team mate, flying instructor, whether on operations in Afghanistan or as Red 4, Jon wanted to be there for others and to support and serve them and the RAF to the best of his ability,” she said.

Echoing the sentiments of Squadron Leader Ben Murphy and Group Captain Harv Smith, who also spoke at the service, Dr Egging spoke of her husband’s confidence and hard work to both achieve his own dreams and inspire others around him.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton then paid tribute to the talented pilot who had served in Afghanistan before joining the Red Arrows.