Red Arrow Widow Completes Charity Ride

The widow of a Red Arrows pilot killed after a display in Bournemouth is due to complete a 400-mile coast-to-coast charity bike ride.

Dr Emma Egging, 32, joined a team of cyclists from the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows for the challenge, taking the place of her late husband, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging.

Flt Lt Egging, 33, from Rutland, was killed when his Hawk T1 aircraft crashed after performing at Bournemouth Air Festival in August.

Jon Egging

The four-day cycle began at St David's Head in West Wales and saw the group covering a gruelling 100 miles (161km) each day.

It will end on Friday 14th October in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

The ride originally aimed to raise money for two charities - the RAF Association Wings Appeal and Fly2help - but money will now also go towards The Jon Egging Trust.

Set up by Dr Egging in memory of her late husband, it aims to help young people aged between 13 and 21 to develop life skills and accredited training.

Before the ride, the academic at the British Museum, said:

''I feel immensely proud to be riding in Jon's place for this challenge and will be thinking of him all the way along.''