A 97 year-old WWII pilot stood under the wings of a Sunderland bomber during a visit to his old airbase.

Peter White flew with the 203 Squadron in countries across the world, including Africa, India, Cairo and Palestine.

The bombing raids he and his colleagues flew during his time in India helped to keep the Japanese out of China and maintain supply lines into the country.

Having developed dementia in recent years, Mr White moved into Woodland Grove care home on Rectory Lane, Loughton eighteen months ago.

When his daughter Sally Connell asked for the home's support to help him visit his old airbase at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire, it was happy to help.

She said: “Although my father’s time in the RAF was only five years of his life it was hugely significant for him and his memories from that time are still strong.

“As well as this being a chance for him to revisit those memories, I wanted the trip to be a celebration of my father.

"What happened in south east Asia during the war was unreported at the time because of the poor communications to that area.”

Mr White missed out on the RAF’s Centenary celebrations because his squadron association had lost touch with him, so Ms Connell was delighted with the welcome he received at Duxford from Group Captain Paul Sanger-Davies.

The two met beneath the wing of a Sunderland bomber, one of the many aircraft Mr White flew in his career.

“It was a fantastic day,”Ms White said.

“I could see Daddy become more and more aware as time went on and I could see how proud he felt and how happy.

" But I couldn’t have managed it without the staff from Woodland Grove.”

Woodland Grove offers residential, nursing, memory and respite care for up to 72 people.

Its lifestyle coordinator, Eirlys Roff, organised the day trip and returned from annual leave a day early to accompany Mr White and a number of other RAF veterans from the home.

She said: “Active reminiscence like this, that allows people to connect with those significant times in their lives, has huge benefits for their wellbeing.

“Our care isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ at Woodland Grove, we tailor experiences to each individual and we were thrilled to see the effect on Peter, it’s so rewarding.”