I watched (albeit on the television) Mr. Henshaw take to the air in a two-seat Spitfire for the type’s 70th anniversary this time last year. It was evident that there was real joy in his face as he went up for a spin. Even more impressive was his dignified and courteous air when interviewed by a rather stupid BBC “News 24” reporter. He was informative where one would have expected a dull, simple response, kind where one would have expected him to turn sour. Unlike many of you, I never saw him in the flesh but he seemed like a genuinely decent man. Requiescat in pacem.

I just hope God likes Spitfires, too.