THE newly-appointed Chief of the Air Staff was guest of honour at a Battle Of Britain Commemoration Service and Parade near York.

The event at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington yesterday was among Sir Stephen Dalton’s first public engagements since taking up his post last month, attending in his capacity as an Honorary Vice President of the Allied Air Forces Memorial.

The annual event, which marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, was attended by more than 250 Air Training Corps cadets and featured a Parade of Standards of the Royal Air Forces Association and other associations. There was also a flypast by a Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.

Meanwhile, about 2,000 Girl Guides from across the York and Selby district descended on York’s Museum Gardens yesterday to celebrate the organisation’s centenary.

The girls walked along the City Walls to the gardens for a series of activities and a ceremony to mark the anniversary.

Entertainment included circus performers, fire-eaters, jugglers, stilt-walkers and a bed of nails, before an official launch outside the Yorkshire Museum, for which the Selby Scout And Guide Band performed a special fanfare.

One Guide, Helen Fannan, was also presented with her Queen’s Guide Award – the highest award Guides can get.

A new County Commissioner, Carole Wilson, also took over from Joyce Green during the afternoon.