November 23, 2021 5.16 pm
This story is over 8 months old
Three new pilots join Red Arrows ahead of 2022 season
The new season is set to begin in May
(Left to right) Flight Lieutenant Stuart Roberts, Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat and Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw will join the Red Arrows lineup for next season. | Photo: RAF Red Arrows
The Red Arrows will see three new pilots welcomed to the team for the 2022 season, succeeding those who left at the end of this campaign.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team closed out the 2021 season in October, with a final display above the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in Portsmouth.
It was the final sortie for Squadron Leaders Jon Bond and Steve Morris, who called time on their Red Arrows careers after a combined eleven years with the team.
Jon Bond (left) and Steve Morris (right) will be leaving the Red Arrows team after over a decade of combined experience. | Photo: Royal Air Force
Preparations have now begun at RAF Scampton for the team’s 58th display season, which traditionally starts in May to span the summer months and early-autumn, and there are three new pilots to join the Red Arrows lineup.
The new additions will be Flight Lieutenants Stuart Roberts and Patrick Kershaw, and Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat, flying Reds 2, 3 and 10 respectively.
The new additions also come ahead of the Red Arrows planned move from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington in 2022.
Flt Lt Stuart Roberts will fly Red 2 for the 2022 season. | Photo: RAF Red Arrows
Flt Lt Stuart Roberts, 35, joined the RAF in 2009 after being born in Germany at RAF Wegberg and going on to study geography at Loughborough.
He has experience flying Typhoon aircraft, undertaking NATO air policing duties and even helping secure the UK skies by conducting quick reaction alerts.
He said: “I vividly remember seeing the team display as a young boy but, as I have spent more time in the Royal Air Force and had more insight into how the Red Arrows operate, I was drawn towards applying by its clear, common goal and the high levels of teamwork required from everyone involved to generate a consistent, world-leading display.”
Flying as Red 3 will be Flt Lt Patrick Kershaw. | Photo: RAF Red Arrows
Flt Lt Patrick Kershaw, 36, is Huddersfield-born and has a degree in business administration at Leicester De Montfort University. He joined the Royal Air Force service in 2006.
During his career he has been posted to the Tornado GR4 at RAF Marham, where he took part in operations over North Africa and the Middle East.
He said he was excited to join the force and be one of the Red Arrows’ nine display pilots.
“Innovation, precision, teamwork are all at the forefront of what we do in the team and these qualities are shared throughout numerous industries in the UK.
“Being able to represent this as an ambassador for the next three years will be a privilege and honour.”
Graeme Muscat will be the new Red 10, otherwise known as Supervisor. | Photo: RAF Red Arrows
The third new addition is the team supervisor, Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat, who will be replacing Sqn Ldr Adam Collins as Red 10.
Red 10 is the team’s safety supervisor for all practices and displays, maintaining and coordinating radio contact with Red 1 from the ground, as well as flying the team photographers and taking the spare aircraft between locations.
Graeme, 46, from Cheshire, joined the RAF in 1995 and has flown the Tornado GR4 on the frontline, as well as being a Flight Commander on the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley.
Sqn Ldr Muscat said: “I can remember being one of the crowd at airshows, both as a child and as young adult, watching not only the Red Arrows but any military flying and just being awestruck.
“As you can see from my career path, I didn’t join direct as a pilot and had to work up through the ranks because I never let go of my dream and aspirations.
“So, for me, providing a great show and meeting and inspiring the public will be a brilliant experience.”
This means the full pilot line-up for the Red Arrows 2022 season has been confirmed as:
Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – Wing Commander David Montenegro
Red 1 and Team Leader – Squadron Leader Tom Bould
Red 2 – Flight Lieutenant Stuart Roberts
Red 3 – Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw
Red 4 – Flight Lieutenant Will Cambridge
Red 5 – Squadron Leader Nick Critchell
Red 6 and Synchro Leader – Squadron Leader Gregor Ogston
Red 7 and Synchro Two – Flight Lieutenant James Turner
Red 8 and Executive Officer – Flight Lieutenant Damo Green
Red 9 – Flight Lieutenant David Simmonds
Red 10 and Supervisor (from March 2022) – Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat
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Anglian Water said that the leak was due to a naturally-occurring spring, rather than a burst pipe, which now appears to have been plugged.
The water spring had been causing problems for at least two years | Photo: The Lincolnite/LDRS
Natasha Chapman, who lives nearby, has rung Anglian Water monthly since March to try and get something done about it.
“It was awful, there was so much algae that you had to step into the road to walk around it – and that’s not a good idea on Monks Road,” she said.
“At one point it got really bad. It wasn’t easy to avoid. We were worrying about what was going to happen in winter when it froze.
“I began calling Anglian Water when I moved into the area in March, and I was going back and forth with them at least once a month to find out what was happening.
“We were told that it was a natural underground spring and nothing could be done about it.
“But then more work started about two or three weeks ago on the leak and it seems to have been sorted now. It’s great to be able to walk down the road safely again.”
Anglian Water previously said that they were aware of the running water.
“This is a spring that has been there many years and Lincolnshire highways are aware of it. Our teams have surveyed this many times and there is no indication of a water leak,” a spokesperson said at the time.
They have been contacted about the reason being it stopping.
Lincolnshire County Council also said that underground springs occurred all along the Monks Road/Arboretum hill, and they had plans to manage the flow of water to prevent any safety issues.
Burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and nachos will whet your tastebuds when Mexican grill restaurant Tortilla will officially open fully to the public later this week and The Lincolnite went for a sneak preview and first taste.
The restaurant is located between Phase Eight and Everyman Cinema on the corner of the redeveloped Cornhill Quarter and will open with its full opening hours on Saturday, August 13.
Prior to this, the Lincoln outlet, which is the company’s 52nd restaurant in the UK served burritos to local businesses earlier this week. On Friday, August 12 there will be an offer of a free medium or naked burrito for people between 12pm-2pm (with no more allowed to join the queue after 1.30pm), who are advised to use the QR code on the Tortilla website.
Matt Harrington, General Manager of Tortilla in Lincoln, told The Lincolnite that all the food is made fresh daily and he can’t wait for the official full opening this weekend.
He said: “We have a great team and site, and the company is growing a lot, so it’s an exciting time for us and the city of Lincoln.”
Why not try some delicious tacos! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Or a burrito! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The team at Lincoln aim to offer a fresh, healthy, affordable casual dining experience with plenty of build-your-own possibilities, rather than having to just stick to a set menu. The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free alternatives.
Once open, it will become the first Tortilla restaurant in Greater Lincolnshire.
Delicious MexiCal food at Tortilla in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Take a look inside! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The restaurant is located between Phase Eight and Everyman Cinema on the corner of the redeveloped Cornhill Quarter. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tortilla will be the latest in a long line of businesses to be welcomed with open arms into the Cornhill Quarter, following a multi-million pound redevelopment project to give Sincil Street and surrounding areas “a new lease of life”.
Stores and sites such as Hobbs, Whistles, The Botanist, Trent Galleries and 200 degrees have all opened in the area in recent times, with more set to be on their way to Lincoln.
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