Ref. 29955-48HAVING to leave the RAF in the 1950s when he developed insulin dependent diabetes influenced Hugh Rees when he joined the U3A eight years ago.

The 70-year-old former pilot, who worked as a draughtsman until he retired, promptly signed up for an aviation group. Now he runs it.

"We study aircraft from the Zeppelins onwards," said Mr Rees, of Broome Manor Lane.

"We visit air museums and airfields and study squadron histories. And most of us have been connected with the Air Force.

"Norman Raven, for instance, was an engineer on Sunderlands during the Second World War. Don Brown was a meteorologist."

Mr Rees also belongs to groups that study military history and genealogy.