Tornado Ted, the new mascot for Royal Air Force Leeming, has flown into the Guinness Book of Records.

Record holder Tornado Ted

Cuddly Ted was selected by the North Yorkshire air base to help raise funds for Northdale Horticulture, based in Northallerton, which provides education and vocational training to young persons with learning difficulties from York and around the county.

Unfortunately the lease ran out on Northdale's existing property in the grounds of the old Maternity Hospital and, as the site was to be redeveloped, a new base of operation was needed.

Northdale is now roughly halfway to its target of about £200,000.

RAF Leeming stepped in with some help and selected a bear as the figurehead for a fundraising attempt to enter the record books for the mascot which has flown the greatest number of miles.

And it wasn't long before Tornado Ted had achieved the following milestones: Flight in 15 different aircraft types including a Red Arrows Hawk, Leeming-based Hawk and Tornado F3s, Mig 29s and cockpits of most Boeing airliners.

He's also visited over 20 different destinations in countries as far apart as the USA, South Africa and the Far East.

The certificate from the Guinness Book of Records was presented to Tornado Ted by the officer commanding RAF Leeming, Air Commodore Barry Doggett.

Also being presented is a cheque for £3,010 which represents the balance of almost £5,000 raised by appeals and donations to the Northdale Appeal by staff, friends and associates of RAF Leeming.

Northdale Horticulture continues to seek help in raising funds to guarantee its future.

Further information is available from Robert Sisson at Northdale on 01609 770269.

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