Years of campaigning paid off last night as it was announced that a Sea King helicopter will take up residence in Moray as a lasting tribute to the heroes who spent 40 years patrolling the region’s skies.
The search and rescue aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth were a regular fixture in the airspace above the area until they were decommissioned at the beginning of April.
Residents who cherished the Sea King as a local icon since the 1970s grieved the loss of one of the region’s most recognisable emblems.
However, a campaign headed by Kinloss charity Morayvia, which attracted the backing of several star names, has now ensured a retired rescue copter will have a permanent home in the area.
The Sea King, being handed over to the group by the Ministry of Defence, is expected to take up residence at Morayvia’s Kinloss base, alongside the retired Nimrod MR2 ‘Duke of Edinburgh’.
Thousands of local people backed the campaign, and at the Morayvia base in Elgin’s St Giles Centre last night, the announcement that the group had finally achieved its goal was met with loud applause.
Morayvia chairman Mark Mair, who has spearheaded the Save a Sea King drive, hailed the work of the heroes who will be remembered by the machine’s presence in Moray.
He said: “The Sea King is more special to me than to many others because I myself was rescued by it once when in trouble at sea.
“This is an emotional event for me, and I don’t think people fully understand and appreciate the work the engineers piloting the machines did.
“Moray needs to pay tribute to these guys, the Ministry of Defence didn’t let it happen when they decommissioned the Sea Kings, but we will make it happen now.”
Supporters of the appeal included TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, actress Joanna Lumley and newsreader Sally McNair.
Ms Kelly said last night: “I’m delighted this is happening and would like to congratulate everyone who made it possible.”
Moray’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant Jim Royan added: “On behalf of the community, not just the Lord Lieutenancy, I would like to say this is a special moment.
“If we have to find a name for this aircraft it should be ‘Tenacity’ because it is remarkable how tenacious Morayvia has been in securing this purchase.”
The MoD’s disposal services agency confirmed the sale of the Sea King registered Mk3 XZ592 on Monday.
The cost of establishing the aircraft in Moray is likely to amount to about ÂŁ30,000.
Chief executive of the Morayvia Science and Technology project Stan Barber said the group was still looking into the copter’s past but initial investigations indicated it had seen action in the Falklands.
The Sea King helicopter, which served at RAF Cornwall before being retired this year, is likely to be the centrepiece of an interactive science and technology centre at Morayvia’s base in Kinloss.
It is hoped it will prove a popular tourist attraction as well as a way to educate the region’s youngsters on Moray’s history.
Morayvia was formed in 2012 following the closure of RAF Kinloss and the scrapping of plans to continue the UK maritime aircraft defence role operated by Nimrod aircraft at the base.
The RAF and Royal Navy Sea King fleet is being progressively withdrawn from service, with search and rescue operations being taken over by civilian contractors Bristow.
In March a government decision to scrap a leaving event for the Sea King pilots sparked an angry backlash in Moray and beyond.