Flypast for Wiltshire flying instructor with prostate cancer

People gathered with Tony Hughes outside the hospice to see the flypast

A former flying instructor who has terminal cancer has been honoured with a flypast at a local hospice.

Tony Hughes, 68, from Calne, has prostate cancer and is trying to raise awareness of getting tested.

Several aircraft flew past Prospect Hospice, including a microlight similar to the one Mr Hughes had taught people to fly when he was an instructor.

His wife, Sue, said: "He's trying to promote the idea of having the tests early to prevent the disease."

She said her husband wanted to encourage others to get tested for the illness early because "it was too late for him".

A former RAF pilot, Mr Hughes runs the Wiltshire Microlight Centre and is a two-time European hang gliding champion.

Mr Hughes has been a pilot for decades.

Jezz Brown, whose partner Julian Midder organised the event on Tuesday in just 24 hours, said the task "wasn't simple".

She added that the pilots gathered around Barbury Castle until they were ready for the flypast.

"Tony was a pilot above all and that was his first love," she said.

"People came from far and wide to give him a wave."

Tony Hughes' wife Sue said he wants people to get tested for prostate cancer early

Hospice nurse Tina Baker said the flypast was "incredibly important".

"It's about recognising who the person is and who they were before they were poorly," she added.