THE breathtaking story of fearless flying when a Spitfire went under the Tees bridge at Winston helped to launch the newly-created Teesdale community website.
The site, which went ‘live’ on May 1, will include fascinating features about local history. The first feature is a specially-commissioned article about the legendary 1988 Spitfire flight.
The story of how pilot Ray Hanna flew under Winston Bridge is related by his daughter, Sarah Hanna.
Commentary and anecdotes from the extraordinary skilful flight are told with some stunning contemporary drone footage and archive material. The historic flight is a part of Winston Bridge folklore and is celebrated by a bronze model of a Spitfire.
Tom Deakin online editor of the community website, said: “This is a visually stunning insight into the historic Spitfire flight and having Sarah Hanna to explain her father’s nerves of steel provides real excitement and local pride.
“Flying at a mere 12ft above the Tees, pilot Ray approached the 110ft bridge span at 250mph; no fear here then!”
Sarah explained that her father led the Red Arrows for a record four years from 1966. He also spent ten years as a commercial pilot with Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong based airline.
He bought a rare 1943 Mark Nine (IX) Spitfire, unusual among such aircraft in that it actually flew on active wartime service.
There will be an online Spitfire related quiz to accompany the online piece.
To complement the Spitfire footage and feature there are articles on the history of the 1763 bridge and an 1840 engraving of Winston Church Hill from below the bridge; the church at that time without its familiar spire which was only added in 1847.
“The runway for the website launch now seems well and truly clear for further local online features of historic and current interest” said ‘Wing Co’ Paula when asked about future website plans.
You can visit the website at: gainfordwinston.church.
