A SECOND World War bomber command veteran has taken over the helm of a Royal British Legion group.

Ken Baker, described as a “spritely 91-year-old” has been elected as president of the Osmotherley RBL branch, in the village near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

The former RAF officer piloted a Lancaster bomber on the final raid of the Second World War.

He had volunteered for the Royal Air Force when he was 18 and was selected for flying training in Canada and on his return to England, qualified to fly Lancaster bombers.

In February 1945, as part of the 106 Squadron, he flew the first of four operational raids into Germany. His fifth raid was to Tonsberg in Norway, which was Bomber Command’s final operational European raid in the Second World War.

On his demobilisation in 1946 he commenced a long career in agriculture, particularly crop research and development, which took him around the country, before retiring in Osmotherley close to his daughter and her family.

Mr Baker attributes his good health to his “personal trainer”, Toby, a Staffordshire terrier cross who is said to exercise him twice a day.

Branch chairman David Black said in his annual report that he was delighted a World War Two veteran had accepted the presidential post.

He added: “Membership is open to anyone and not only ex-service personnel. Recent wars have left a legacy of hundreds of young people horrifically wounded. These youngsters will require support for the rest of their lives.

"This is why the Osmotherley branch must do all we can to maintain membership in order to keep up the good work of supporting the ex-service community.”