Air cadets from Havering and beyond held a special commemorative parade for the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Sunday.

The proud youngsters marched from St Andrew’s Church, through Hornchurch to the cemetery, in Upminster Road, where a special service was held to remember the fallen.

Air cadets from Hornchurch, Elm Park, Romford, Dagenham, Becontree and East Ham all acquitted themselves excellently, and the ceremony was also attended by Romford MP Andrew Rosindell.

Flt Lt Vince Ferguson, of the Chigwell squadron, who was at the service, said the RAF hopefuls were “very professional and representative of everything the cadets stands for”.

Flt Lt Ferguson explained that the driven youngsters were surprised and humbled to learn that some of the pilots who died in the Battle of Britain were their age or younger.

“RAF cadets are between the ages of 12 and 20, and they were surprised to hear that some of those who died were only 18,” he explained.

Flt Lt Ferguson encouraged youngsters from the borough to join the cadets, saying you get to visit RAF bases, you can train for a pilot’s licence before you can learn to drive and go on all sorts exciting expeditions.

For more information visit raf.mod.uk/aircadets.