The Royal Air Force 100th birthday fly-past in London took place last week. It was a tremendous sight involving 100 aircraft.

Acting on advice from Dartmouth Town Council, the regatta committee and Harbour Authority, strict accordance with all safety and health requirements and insurance company profits was exercised by the Greater London Council.

All water-borne traffic on the River Thames ceased a week before the fly-past and all boats were securely moored. All persons living on their boats were removed to safety before the event. Some defiant boat owners found hiding on board were keel-hauled.

Even more impressive was the discipline exercised by every single person watching the event.

In accordance with the ‘Dartmouth rules’, the entire area within a five mile radius of Buckingham Palace was covered by a ‘Null Movement Directive’, which decreed that no-one should twitch a muscle during the fly-past.

This directive was, of course, vital because any such movement would have resulted in one of The Few falling out of the sky instantaneously and since there are very few left we must ensure that does not happen.

I was very relieved to see this directive was observed by everyone.

Well, almost everyone. When Her Majesty was informed by her butler that she could not even wave at a few of The Few, she set the corgis on him and proceeded to wave at all of The Few.

Apparently, none of them fell from the sky.

Rod Burton

Above Town, Dartmouth