A plane with a special message on a banner flew over Darlington on Monday evening (July 4), leading many residents to wonder who the recipient was.

The banner read: “Happy 70th Birthday Capt. Tim Neville!”

The Northern Echo asked who the recipient of this thoughtful gesture was and Joe and Anice Neville, Capt. Tim’s son and daughter, got in touch.

Anice and Joe organised the birthday surprise and they and mum Carol, Tim’s wife, struggled to keep the surprise a secret.

The Northern Echo: The birthday message had many residents of Darlington wondering who the recipient was. Picture: STEVEN CURTISThe birthday message had many residents of Darlington wondering who the recipient was. Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

Read more: Surprise as plane flies over Darlington with very special Birthday message

The Northern Echo: 1984 – on exchange with the US Air Force (USAF), at this time flying A10s out of Arizona. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1984 – on exchange with the US Air Force (USAF), at this time flying A10s out of Arizona. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

Anice said: “My dad was so overwhelmed when he saw the banner. It was difficult to keep it a secret but it seemed an appropriate birthday surprise because he loves anything related to flying.”

The Northern Echo: 1977 – Tim was the 19 Squadron Standard Bearer; this was a parade for the Freedom of Guterloh in Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1977 – Tim was the 19 Squadron Standard Bearer; this was a parade for the Freedom of Guterloh in Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

Captain Tim was in the RAF from 1970 to 1990. He flew a variety of fighter jets including F4s, F106s and A10s.

The Northern Echo: Tim was "overwhelmed" when he saw his birthday surprise on Monday evening (July 3). Picture: STEVEN CURTISTim was "overwhelmed" when he saw his birthday surprise on Monday evening (July 3). Picture: STEVEN CURTIS

The Northern Echo: 1974 - RAF Winter survival course. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1974 - RAF Winter survival course. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

He left the Air Force in 1991 and worked as an air taxi pilot, before joining the Flight Refuelling Aviation at Teesside Airport in 1993.

The Northern Echo: 1981 - Standing next to his old retired Lightning at RAF Bruggen, Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1981 - Standing next to his old retired Lightning at RAF Bruggen, Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

In 1997 he became a commercial pilot with Airtours, which became MyTravel and then merged with Thomas Cook.

The Northern Echo: 1977 - Celebrating their arrival as the 15,000th visitor to receive fuel and servicing at German Air Force Base Jever. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1977 - Celebrating their arrival as the 15,000th visitor to receive fuel and servicing at German Air Force Base Jever. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

Read more: Darlington pupils departing to once-in-a-lifetime school trip 1,000 miles away

Anice said: “He has just always loved flying and knew from when he was 14 what he wanted to do when he joined the Air Cadets. When he was 18 he joined the RAF.

“He also went to the U.S. in 1981 and spent three years in Florida where he was an instructor at the Fighter Weapons School.”

The Northern Echo: 1973 - Doing his bit for recruiting, standing by the front fuselage of a Lightning. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1973 - Doing his bit for recruiting, standing by the front fuselage of a Lightning. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

At Thomas Cook he became the Fleet Operations Manager for the North and then worked for the company as a Training Captain until he retired in 2017.

The Northern Echo: 1988 - self-portrait flying an F4 Phantom. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1988 - self-portrait flying an F4 Phantom. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

He still flies with the Northumbria Gliding Club and, until recently, oversaw the aircraft used to tow the gliders. He, however, has recently stepped down from this role as he was diagnosed with a fourth tumour in his neck late last year. He’s now had an 18-year battle with cancer, and is supported by the team at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The Northern Echo: 1976 - flying a Lightning F2A in Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1976 - flying a Lightning F2A in Germany. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

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The Northern Echo: 1988 - Tim as Flight Commander on 111 Squadron. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY1988 - Tim as Flight Commander on 111 Squadron. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

Anice said: “He’s always been a lovely dad to my brother, Joe, and me. He’s always been extremely generous. He always knew what he wanted to do in life and has always been very family-focused.”

The Northern Echo: 2013 - Tim en route to Tenerife in 2013 with Thomas Cook. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY2013 - Tim en route to Tenerife in 2013 with Thomas Cook. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

The Northern Echo: 2019 - Anice and Tim flying in a Grob aircract in 2019 around Northumbria Gliding Club. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY2019 - Anice and Tim flying in a Grob aircract in 2019 around Northumbria Gliding Club. Picture: THE NEVILLE FAMILY

The banner was organised with Sky Banner Ltd which seems to be the only company in the country that still has a license to fly an aircraft with a banner.

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