Much-loved community member Pauline Jaffray was warmly remembered at a fly-in which attracted two dozen aircraft to the county.
Pauline had a huge presence in East Lothian and was involved in a number of community groups including East Lammermuir Community Council, Haddington Farmers’ Market, Dunbar Trades’ Association and Innerwick Flower Show.
She also founded East Lothian Life magazine and was its editor for over 30 years.
Pauline passed away in October 2022, three years after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
She was honoured earlier this month at a fly-in event at East fortune airfield, which is owned by Pauline’s husband David Pate. Money was raised for St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh in her memory.
The annual event is organised by light aircraft pilot Keith Griggs of Tranent, who gained his pilot’s licence in 2000 and has been flying for more than 20 years.
Keith said: “Unfortunately on the Friday and Saturday it was far too windy for any light aircraft, but on the Sunday it was perfect.”
Twenty-four aircraft were able to land at the airfield from across Scotland and England, including one from Speke, just south of Liverpool.
A barbeque for the pilots raised £720.05 for the hospice, which cared for Pauline during the final stages of her life.
Various organisations donated supplies free of charge: Ian Hastie donated bricks for the barbecue, Nixon Hire provided toilet facilities, and Tunnock’s kept attendees in crucial supply of sweet treats!
Keith added: “To raise £720 on the day with only 24 aircraft – that’s not bad going!
“So many charities are having a difficult time at the moment, so every penny is crucial.”
The event fundraises for a different cause ever year, and Pauline was also honoured during the 2020 fly-in, a year after her cancer diagnosis, when the money raised from the event was donated to a charity of her choice.
Then, £700 was gifted to the Nicola Murray Foundation (NMF), which raises awareness of HNPCC (Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer) syndrome and its link to ovarian cancer, and funds research into it.
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