A long distance solo cycle ride on a tandem from Land’s End to Kingsdown ended with a visit to St John’s Church in the village to lay flowers on the grave of an RAF hero.

Helen Wright completed the 477 miles in memory of Squadron Leader Ant Downing, who was mortally wounded in Afghanistan in December. The spare seat represented her friend.

She raised more than £600 for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, and at the end of the journey was greeted by Ant’s mother, who read about her challenge on the RAFBF website.

The keen cyclist said: "Ant was a great friend to many and a true inspiration, whether through his professional work as an RAF engineer, competing in extreme sporting events, as a stalwart member of the Mountain Rescue Service, or simply drinking copious amounts of tea and chatting.

"I wanted to honour his memory somehow and a long distance cycle ride from Land’s End to his home village seemed appropriate. I did it on a tandem on my own so that the empty saddle would represent the fact that he is no longer here to pedal himself. It was hard work but I know that Ant would have approved of the challenge."

Sqn Ldr Downing, a former pupil of Dover Grammar School, lived in Kingsdown and his parents still live in the village.

* For full story see the East Kent Mercury, October 4.