Stork of the town

HIGH above the pageantry of military bands playing wartime favourites and jubilant cheers ringing over the Mall, a lone bird performed a dignified flypast to mark the recent 80th anniversary of VE Day.

- Stuart Winter

The white stork, its vast wings flapping, spindly neck and legs outstretched, cast a victori-ous cross-shape silhouette in the skies on a day the nation hailed its heroes.

Whether the King and Queen caught sight of the stork circling east while RAF warplanes zoomed over Buckingham Pal-ace remains unknown.

My patriotic goosebumps stood to attention as a Lancaster bomber roared and the Red Arrows painted a red, white and blue canopy over the London skyline.