LOOKING back to the week that was November 11 to November 17, 20 years ago...

CHILDREN paid a moving tribute to a once-forgotten war hero and his comrades at an Armistice Day service, in November 2004.

Pupils from Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, who were studying the brave actions of Canadian air gunner Andrew Mynarski, attended the ceremony at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

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It was held every November 11 to honour the servicemen and women who were stationed at the airport when it was a Royal Canadian Air Force base during the Second World War.

Pilot Officer Mynarski, 27, set out from the base on a mission over France in 1944, in which he died trying to save the life of his best friend.

The Northern Echo was campaigning to raise £40,000 to have a statue built in his honour at the airport.

Pupils from Middleton St George School, which was backing the appeal, formed a history club to find out more about Mynarski and the war.

Just before 11am, they laid a wreath on a memorial bearing his photograph outside the St George Hotel, before prayers were read and the Canadian and British national anthems were sung.

Two former members of Mynarski's squadron, Jimmy Amlin and Fred Chatwin, both 81, were standard bearers at the service, organised by Middleton St George Memorial Association, along with Jack Hindmoor, 82, a former Bomber Command navigator.

Four birds of prey stopped off at a nursery school for a flying visit in November 2009.

Two owls, an eagle and a kestrel from Sion Hill Hall Falconry Centre, at Kirby Wiske, were at Borrowby Nursery in Borrowby, near Thirsk.

The visit was part of the nursery's current topic, saw the children learning about day and night time animals.

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They were joined by youngsters from the reception class at Knayton School.

Nursery owner Linda Chapman said: "The children were fascinated by the birds and sat so quietly while they were here.

"It was very educational as well. I think the adults learnt as much as the children."