A Mearns war veteran who had been stopped from attending a memorial service to his brother killed in the Second World War has now been told he will be able to take part.
Charles Crowther, 99, of Laurencekirk, joined the 609 (West Riding) Squadron of the Royal Air Force on the same day as his brother William, who was killed in 1942 while returning from a bomber raid on Essen.
Mr Crowther is the oldest and only one of three surviving members of the squadron to have been invited to a ceremony on the tarmac at Leeds Bradford International Airport next week.
A memorial plaque is due to be re-dedicated to William and the other members of the squadron who died during the war.
Mr Crowther had been blocked from attending the “air-side” service because he does not have either a current passport or driving licence.
A spokeswoman for the airport had said that, as a visitor pass needs to be issued for all attendees visiting the restricted areas, there are strict guidelines that the airport must comply with and one element is an official form of identification (passport or photo ID driving licence).
But yesterday officials said the veteran can prove who he is with bills, photographs and a birth certificate. Before he heard the good news, Mr Crowther said: “I feel really frustrated about not being able to attend the ceremony.
“I think they are going a bit over the top in this case. I know there has to be security but how far do they take it?
“My older brother and I and joined the squadron on the same day and we had consecutive numbers in the air force. I have been attending the reunions for the past 50 years and I am disappointed and frustrated.”
Mr Crowther’s son Peter, 65, from Fettercairn, also condemned the initial decision, saying: “I appreciate that airport security is obviously important but surely an exception should be made for a man in his 100th year?
“My father is the oldest surviving member of the original squadron and somebody higher up surely could have said he could attend the ceremony in the company of a security guard or a policeman.”
He said his father had lost his passport years ago and he had been told by the Passport Office that it would take up to eight weeks to issue him with a new one.
The new plaque at the airport not only commemorates the original 609 Squadron but also the squadron which reformed in 1999 and still serves today.