A FORMER Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who flew in the Second World War will share his experiences with the Oswestry Macular Society telephone support group at their next group call on Friday.

Harry Garthwaite, who will celebrate his 101st birthday on June 4, clocked up almost 2,500 flying hours, flew 23 different aircraft types including the Hurricane, the Spitfire and an abandoned German trainer, and was mentioned in dispatches.

Although his flying days ended in February 1946 when he was demobbed, Harry remains an aircraft enthusiast and a keen member of his local RAF Association.

Harry, who is affected by dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says after an encouraging talk with a fellow north Shropshire group in Wem, he will be delighted to do so again with the Oswestry group, starting at 2pm.

"I was invited by an RAF Association friend of mine to share some of my wartime flying experiences with the members and volunteers of the Wem Macular Society telephone support group," he said.

"They made me feel so welcome.

"I really enjoyed talking to them and we also had a very in-depth discussion about how, during the war, people helped each other, very much as we are all trying to do now.

“After that talk, the Macular Society got in contact with me to ask if I would be interested in speaking to more of their members and volunteers at some of their other telephone support group meetings across the country.

"I was surprised but also absolutely delighted because it means that by helping in this way I can reciprocate the community support spirit that I have experienced in my life.”

The Macular Society, a leading sight loss charity which funds medical research to beat macular disease, suspended all face-to-face support services when the coronavirus first struck last year.

Since then the charity has provided a new range of telephone and online support services, including telephone befriending and all services are available to anyone affected by sight loss, their family or friends.

Amanda Read, senior regional manager for the charity, said: “We are delighted to welcome Harry as a guest speaker to our group call.

"I have absolutely no doubt that he will be very popular and we very much look forward to hearing his stories.”

If you would like to join the call, or for more information about additional support services available locally, please contact Amanda on 07432 700 478, or email amanda.read@macularsociety.org