A FEATURE on an extraordinary event is the first feature on a new community website.
The newly created Teesdale community website launched this weekend.
The site's first feature is a specially commissioned piece on the legendary 1988 Spitfire flight beneath Winston Bridge by Ray Hanna.
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Fight commentary and anecdotes are related by the daughter of the pilot, Sarah Hanna, who tells the tale to stunning contemporary drone footage and archive material.
The historic 1988 flight still remains a part of Winston Bridge folklore and is celebrated by a bronze model of a Spitfire.
Tom Deakin the online editor said: “This offers a visually stunning insight into the historic Spitfire flight and having Sarah Hanna to explain her fathers nerves of steel provides real excitement and local pride.
"Flying at a mere 12 feet above the Tees, pilot Ray approached the 110ft bridge span at 250 mph - no fear here then."
Daughter Sarah’s comment is that having led the Red Arrows for a never to be repeated four years from 1966 her father was a consummate professional on all his flights which included ten years commercial flying with Cathay Pacific - the Hong Kong based flag carrier airline.
To further fuel his enthusiasm for flying he purchased a rare 1943 Mark Nine (IX) Spitfire, unusual amongst such aircraft in that it actually flew on active wartime service.
There is 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.
To finmd out more, visit gainfordwinston.church/st-andrews/winston-bridge-cinema-room/
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