A CEREMONY held in the shadow of a memorial statue honouring the sacrifices made by members of the Royal Canadian Air Force “should never stop”.

Betty Amlin, 86, is the wife of the late Jimmy Amlin, who served with Andrew Mynarski, a Canadian airforceman killed while saving a colleague from a blazing Lancaster bomber during the Second World War.

His valour was never officially commemorated until Mrs Amlin contacted The Northern Echo and a campaign began. This resulted in the raising of £70,000 and the erection of a statue to The Forgotten Hero outside The St George Hotel at Durham Tees Valley Airport, formerly Middleton St George airfield.

Sixty people attended the annual remembrance ceremony held yesterday, including Mrs Amlin, son Edsel and grandson Michael.

“It’s gone very well. I’m pleased with the turnout,”

said Mrs Amlin, adding: “My son and my grandson are very interested in it, we all wish for it to continue. It must never stop.”

Mrs Amlin, who lives in Sedgefield, is the secretary of Middleton St George Memorial Association, which has strong links with the Canadian airforce.

Next June, the association will host Canadian airmen from the 419 Squadron, including Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mizar, the commanding officer.

Ripon Cathedral administrator Lieutenant Colonel Ian Horsford said Remembrance Day had gained much more public support in the past couple of years.

“When Ripon’s Royal Engineers came back from Afghanistan, there was huge public support behind them,” he said at the service in North Yorkshire yesterday. “There was a homecoming service for them and they brought all their wounded as well. They marched through Ripon and the streets were packed. It was moving and emotional.”

The service was combined with the laying to rest of an old RAF standard, belonging to 100 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. It will be hung in Ripon Cathedral.

The squadron was presented with a new standard by the Duchess of Cornwall this summer.

During the service, former Flight Lieutenant Ron Clark. 90, spoke about the squadron’s history.

Retired Ft Lt Clark piloted the Lancaster bomber, the Phantom of the Ruhr, during the Second World War.

A planned flypast of a Hawk jet was cancelled following a fatal accident at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday.

Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham was killed when he was ejected from his seat while his plane was on the ground.

Officer Commanding 100 Squadron, Wing Commander Christian Gleave said: “We’ve also come here today to commemorate those colleagues whom we have lost very recently, including Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham. Our thoughts and love are with both his family and the Red Arrows.”

Former pupils and teachers of Redcar’s Sir William Turner School who fell during the First and Second World Wars were also remembered, this time at Redcar and Cleveland College.

MEANWHILE, for a pupil whose parents are both serving soldiers, planting a tiny wooden cross in memory of fallen heroes was extra poignant.

Barnard Castle School pupil Connor Lewis, 12, was among hundreds of pupils who attended a ceremony in the school’s chapel yesterday, celebrating peace and forgiveness.

Connor’s father is a Royal Engineer serving on the frontline in Afghanistan.

The youngster, from Wingate, in County Durham, said: “I think it is right that we remember all the people who were killed in the wars and also think about the soldiers who are still risking their lives around the world.

IN Durham, a First World War memorial outside Durham Cathedral was used for the first time in 30 years.

The memorial cross was hidden for three decades until earlier this year when major repairs were carried out to the cathedral’s east end.

Yesterday, the Durham Pals, who recreate the life of soldiers from 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) – also known as the Durham Pals – during the First World War, joined Chorister School pupils and others for two minutes’ silence next to the cross.

Silences were observed at Durham’s County Hall, Durham Town Hall, Durham School and Belmont War Memorial. Business also temporarily halted at Durham Catherdral and Durham Crown Court.

Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, and Mac Williams, a former council chairman, laid a wreath at the Thiepval Memorial, in France.

SUNDERLAND football club shirts, featuring a poppy, that the team wore against Manchester United last Saturday – the 25th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson taking charge of the Red Devils – are being auctioned online, with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion. Players have individually signed the shirts. Supporters can bid by visiting ebay.com and searching for Sunderland AFC.