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Poem marks 10 years since death of Red Arrows pilot from Rutland at Bournemouth Air Festival




The youth charity founded as a legacy to a Red Arrows pilot has released a poem to mark 10 years since he was killed in a crash.

Flt Lt Jon Egging was killed in 2011 when the Red Arrows plane he was flying shortly after the Bournemouth Air Festival. He lived in Morcott at the time.

Dr Emma Egging, who lives in Colsterworth, set up the Jon Egging Trust charity in her husband’s name, to young people.

Flt Lt Jon Egging. Photo: Cpl Graham Taylor/Crown Copyright
Flt Lt Jon Egging. Photo: Cpl Graham Taylor/Crown Copyright

Students from the charity collaborated to write the poignant poem, ‘My Future Dreams’, to reflect the impact that the charity’s confidence-building programmes have had on their lives.

The poem will be presented as a plaque to Bournemouth mayor David Kelsey, during a ceremony this evening (Friday, August 20).

Ending with the words: “I’m now above the clouds and the light is shining on me/ Flying high to a bright future,/ Feeling free to climb to my destination”, the plaque will be installed as a permanent addition to the Jon Egging Memorial at East Cliff in Bournemouth.

Emma said the poem was a fitting way to mark the anniversary and reflect on the positive impact that the charity has had on the 30,000 young people it has supported since 2011.

“In June 2011, Jon wrote in his diary: ‘With support where and when necessary, we are all equally capable of being the best versions of ourselves.’ It’s something we talked about a lot,” said Emma.

“The last 10 years have been an incredible journey turning this vision into a reality. I am so proud of what we have created in the Jon Egging Trust, empowering young people who are struggling to engage at school to believe in themselves and develop core competencies which are crucial to their success, such as teamwork, communication and resilience.

“Whilst this 10th anniversary year is about acknowledging the difference we have made over the last decade, this is only the beginning.

“We have big ambitions for the decade ahead which will see us expand our offer to support young people after they leave school, and reach out to a million youngsters by 2031, as well as continuing to develop our free, online ‘JET Inspired’ resources for schools across the UK.”

She said the long-term ambitions of the charity can only be achieved with financial support and called on people to keep donating to the charity.

“In the spirit of Jon’s diary entry, which laid the foundations for our charity, we know that when young people believe in themselves, there are no limits, and that is exactly the sentiment reflected in the poem we have released today,” said
Emma.

To find out more about JET, or to donate, visit joneggingtrust.org.uk/donate

My Future Dreams

The sun always shines in the darkness of day,

JETs fly by with roaring thunder,

Helped by a team working together.

Having a blast, no two sessions the same.

So much fun but lots to gain.

Jon Egging has inspired us all to keep going,

To take strides each day,

Helping us to see the way to our future.

Built with determination and strength,

My future dreams are full of courage and enthusiasm.

Step by step my confidence grows

And my fear is swept away.

Learning big skills, knowledge and thrills,

Into our future we fly.

I’m now above the clouds and the light is shining on me

Flying high to a bright future,

Feeling free to climb to my destination.

Words written by Jon Egging Trust students from Twynham School, Dorset; West Moors

Middle School, Dorset; Marshland School, Norfolk; St George’s Academy, Lincolnshire; Ysgol

Llanfawr, Anglesey; Priory Witham, Lincolnshire and Holyhead High School, Anglesey.



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