8:00am Saturday 18th July 2009
By Dave King
VISITORS to this weekend’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford will be able to engage in a round of celebrity spotting.
The full-up signs were posted for today’s start of the two-day air tattoo, though organisers have said some tickets are available for tomorrow’s show but these have to be purchased in advance.
More than 300 aircraft will be on display for the world’s largest military aviation show which is expected to attract more than 160,000 visitors.
Among those expected to attend are Queen guitarist Brian May and his wife Anita Dobson, Old Grey Whistle Test presenter ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris and BBC Radio 2 presenter Sarah Kennedy.
Other celebrities who organisers hope will turn up are The National Lottery’s ‘voice of the balls’ Alan Dedicoat, Beatles’ producer Sir George Martin, newsreader Peter Sissons and Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films.
Holby City’s Tina Hobley, pictured, ‘Delboy’ aka Sir David Jason and royalty in the shape of HRH Prince Faisal of Jordan and HRH The Duke of Kent should all be receiving the red carpet treatment.
It is all a far cry when the first air tattoo was staged in 1971 at the North Weald airfield in Essex with just 100 aircraft taking part.
The Royal International Air Tattoo was held at Greenham Common from 1973 to 1983, and then moved to RAF Fairford in 1985.
Air Tattoo director of Operations, Chris Murray said. “We are conscious that traditionally many people have turned up on the day at RAF Fairford to buy their tickets, but this is no longer possible.
“We are working hard to get the message out that anyone who turns up ticketless is likely to endure a long wait before being turned away.
Tickets are priced at £34.95. Visit the website at www.
airtattoo.com/airshow for more details.
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