A REUNION with a former RAF comrade prompted an octogenarian to donate a rocking horse to a cathedral.

Derek Thorp travelled to Durham from his retirement home in Blackheath, London, last year to see the Lindisfarne Gospels.

While in the North-East, he caught up with George Hetherington, a fellow ex-airman, who is a volunteer steward at Durham Cathedral.

As they talked, Mr Thorp resolved to make for the cathedral one of the rocking horses to which he has devoted much of his retirement.

Today (Wednesday, November 19), the 84-year-old handed over the finished piece.

Mr Thorp said: “It was lovely to see George and catch up on each other’s lives and while we were chatting I mentioned that I’ve spent my retirement making rocking horses.

“By the end of the conversation, we’d decided it would be nice to donate one to Durham Cathedral.”

Aidan’s Gift, as it has been named, will be used in the cathedral’s education work.

Jo Clamp, from the education team, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Derek for this generous gift to the cathedral.

“The horse is beautiful and I’m sure will be adored by generations of children visiting us and taking part in our education programmes.”

Mr Thorp and Mr Hetherington served together in Singapore more than 60 years ago.

Mr Thorp started work on Aidan’s Gift last year. The hand carved oak and tulip wood piece took 150 hours to complete.

It was given its name because St Aidan gave a horse gifted to him by a king to the first beggar in need he came across.

As is Mr Thorp’s custom, a time capsule was hidden in its body.