A young Highland aircraft enthusiast handed over £1,600 raised for the Red Arrows’ Macmillan Cancer Relief appeal to the world famous aerial display team this afternoon when they arrived at Inverness Airport for their annual flying display at Tain.

Olly Warner, from Strathnaver, and his mum Jacolyn completed a sponsored swim in their local pool at Bettyhill on 10 May this year to raise money for the appeal.

Olly, aged 10, who has previously met the Red Arrows at Inverness and at air shows around the UK, presented the cheque to Squadron Leader Dicky Patounas when the Red Arrows landed at Inverness just after 5pm.

Olly said: “I’ve had lots of great fun with the Red Arrows and RAF and this was a chance to do something for them in return. It’s fantastic to see them at Inverness again.”

The Red Arrows use Inverness every year before staging their annual flying display at Tain. They also featured at the last air show staged at Inverness Airport in July 2002.

The Red Arrows launched the Macmillan appeal in 2004 in honour of their colleague Flight Lieutenant Matt ‘Jarvo’ Jarvis. Aged 29, he became one of the youngest pilots in the history of the Red Arrows after he joined the team for the 2004 display season. After falling ill just before the summer display season started, he was diagnosed with cancer of the bile duct and told that his condition was terminal.

“The whole Team has been devastated by the news,” said Squadron Leader Dicky Patounas, Red Arrows Team Leader. “Jarvo asked us to assist Macmillan Cancer Relief and we were determined to help in any way we could. By supporting Macmillan Cancer Relief we are helping over a million other people in the UK who are currently living with cancer.”

As a result, the Red Arrows Appeal in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief was created.

Jarvo's lifelong ambition was to fly in a Spitfire. The team got in touch with Carolyn Grace, the owner of ML407 (one of the few remaining airworthy two-seat Spitfires), who generously agreed to help Jarvo fulfil his dream. To make the experience even more special, the team arranged for nine Red Arrows and two Harriers (the aircraft flown by Jarvo before he joined The Red Arrows) to escort the Spitfire during part of the flight. The event formed the launch of The Red Arrows' Macmillan Appeal.

Jarvo died on Sunday 20th March 2005, almost a year after he first became ill. Jarvo's bravery, optimism and cheerfulness were an inspiration to the Red Arrows, both before and during his illness.