All rounder Botham flying fast and high on 6th Sept 1982

ENGLAND cricket super star Ian Botham (now Sir Ian) was hit for six yesterday ­by the RAF’s Red Arrows.

The allrounder admitted he was completely bowled over, after a 5O-minute flight. He said, ” These people are absolutely wonderful. It was breath taking.”

Ian look a back seat in one of the teams Hawk jets for the flight, which Included some aerobatics.

With his feet safely back on the ground, Bothem said It was the most Incredible sensation he had ever experienced.

During the 500 mph trip he took the

Controls for a spell, and pilot Ft Lt Tim Miller said he was a natural flyer.

Ian is training for his private pilots licence and next year plans to fly round the world for charity.

During his Red Arrows flight he flew over the Somerset cricket ground at Taunton.

But he admitted, “I really saw no­thing. It was there and then in a flash it was gone.”

Watching him ·take off from RAF Kemble was his wife Kathryn and their two young children Llam and Sarah.

Kathryn said: “Ian Is not the sort of man who wants to be sat around at home doing nothing.

“He wants to do this sort of thing and at the moment flying is very Important to him.

And when pressed, Ian admitted he felt more at ease facing the world’s fastest bowlers.

Just for the record, Ian is of course the man who cannot eat three Shredded Wheat in the national ad campaign at the time.

COPY from Swindon Local Studies copy of the Swindon Advertiser. Ref. 0036