Столетний ветеран Королевских ВВС Гейл Кук отметил юбилей, начав карьеру пилота в 15 лет

A centenarian has been celebrated for a life that took him from humble beginnings to the skies and beyond. Born on September 1, 1926, in a village near Whitwell, Derbyshire, the father of Swindon’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gayle Cook, marked his 100th birthday this week. Swindon Mayor Neil Hopkins paid tribute to his remarkable life and career. Mr Hopkins said: "What an incredible career and an incredible life. "Wishing you a wonderful birthday, a fantastic dinner tonight and a brilliant celebration with your family and friends this Saturday in Chiseldon." The 100-year-old began his career in aviation at the age of 15, joining the RAF as a boy entrant. He went on to fly Lancaster bombers and later piloted Belfast transport aircraft. In 1975, he was part of the Concorde round-the-world tour, transporting vital spare parts as part of the support team. Following his RAF service, he flew Comet 4 aircraft for Dan-Air before retiring from commercial aviation. He continued working for British Aerospace into his late 60s. Even at 100, he remains active, recently driving to Northallerton to take friends out for dinner. His family and friends will celebrate his milestone birthday in Chiseldon this weekend. For £6 get 6 months of UNLIMITED access to the Swindon Adver - £1 a month. 📱 Ad-free app 📰 Digital edition of the paper 🧩 Online puzzles 🎁 Reader Rewards with hundreds of deals and discounts Save on an annual subscription and pay £26 Subscribe👉https://t.co/TRcoVgUC3b pic.twitter.com/ujSt2dLFWa — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) July 21, 2026