The Rector of the Uffington Group Churches took to the skies on Thursday (27 April) from Royal Air Force Wittering to view his flock from the air.
Image By: AS2 Georgina Callaway
Father Aran Beesley flew with Squadron Leader Ed Berwick AFC RAF, the Officer Commanding of the University of London Air Sqn, based at Wittering, in a Tutor aircraft.
Image By: AS2 Georgina Callaway
The training sortie was flown as a standard continuation training flight for the pilot, but it was too great an opportunity to miss for Father Aran who is the Rector of the Church in Seven Villages near Stamford which comprises Uffington, Tallington, West Deeping, Barholm, Greatford, Braceborough, and Wilsthorpe.
Father Aran is responsible for the pastoral care of more than 2,000 people spread over a vast area of 20 square kilometres.
The flight was a chance to see the Church area from a different angle and provided the opportunity to see how close villages appear when viewed from the air. A lover of travel and theme park rides, Father Aran was soon at home in the cockpit.
On landing Father Aran said: “I am extremely grateful to Wittering for affording me the privilege of seeing all the parishes from the air, and to see it upside down as well as the right way up! We all live so close to each other despite the length of time it normally takes me to drive everywhere.”
“It’s also another insight into the lives of all of those that serve in the Armed Forces and helps bring to mind the sacrifices they and their families make to keep us safe.”
