ONE of the team who helped to found an air museum in the region has died at the age of 81 after a long illness.
Yesterday, the funeral of Ronald Pontefract was held in the most appropriate of settings - a hanger at the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, near York.
As a piper played a lament from the control tower, a Tucano from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse flew overhead in tribute.
Mr Pontefract, who leaves a widow and two children, was a former pupil of Bootham School in York. After serving in the RAF throughout the Second World War, he spent 12 years in the Auxiliary Air Force.
He later worked in insurance before becoming communications manager at Nestle Rowntree, a post he held until his retirement at the age of 64.
As well as helping found the air museum in Elvington, where he lived, Mr Pontefract served as president of the York Chamber of Trade and was twice Master of the Guild of Merchant Taylors.
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