INTREPID aviator Charles Style has celebrated with a glass of bubbly the end of a 360-mile challenge to fly from Scotland to Warminster.

The former HMS Illustrious commanding officer completed the last leg of the flight by paramotor, the simplest means of powered flight.

He took off from the grounds of Warminster School on Thursday June 6 and flew the remaining 68 miles to a field in Pershore, between Worcester and Evesham.

Members of The Athenaeum Singers were present to encourage Mr Style at take off on the last leg of the flight and to celebrate his achievement with a glass of bubbly.

He’s hoping to raise £5,000 by Justgiving sponsorship for the Rehabilitation Department at Salisbury District Hospital and £2,000 for the Warminster Athenaeum Singers.

Preparation started at around 5.30pm but the gusty conditions made it difficult to get the wing airborne to provide the necessary lift.

Then, at 7.30pm when the words ‘last attempt’ had been heard, the wing caught the wind and he was up and away.

The retired Vice Admiral began the challenge in early May but was dogged throughout by the changeable British weather.

Northerly winds early in the month caused him to reverse the planned direction of flight and take off from Scotland.

The conditions and visibility for the last leg were magnificent and Mr Style completed the distance in one hour and forty minutes, average speed 40mph, his fastest time of the whole flight.

He did not need the intermediate landing spot he had planned and it was left to his trusty support crew to battle the roads to arrive much later to collect him.

For almost the first time in the entire venture, Charles was able to enjoy the view. He said: “There was smooth air above the glorious rolling Cotswolds with the Severn estuary and the Welsh hills beyond respectively shining silver and shades of grey to port against the setting sun. Magnificent.”

Northerly winds early in May caused him to reverse the planned direction of flight and take off from the Scottish lowlands.

Battling the difficult conditions he managed to make it to the Midlands by the 5th, but his time was spent keeping aloft rather than taking the wished for stunning photographs.

Hopes for a ‘big push’ to get south the next day were dashed by delays and Charles was grounded until the 10th, and then on the11th May, he reached Pershore.

Within reach of Warminster, Charles took off into a very turbulent wind which he immediately realised was not safe.

Returning to the ground, he experienced a very heavy landing when a down-draft caused him to drop almost vertically in the final stages. Luckily the resultant back pain was temporary.

Recovery complete, it was again necessary to wait for better conditions. Now, south westerly winds dictated that the remaining 68 miles be flown in the opposite direction.

Further donations via Charles’ Just Giving site would be most gratefully received.