A PEEBLES photographer is flying high after her picture perfect photo landed first place for an RAF competition.

Cathy Lovell, a supermarket worker in the town, takes photos as a hobby, and entered her photo for the RAF Lossiemouth Tornado competition after seeing the Tornados fly over her home in the valleys in recent years.

Whenever she gets the chance, Cathy also likes to visit RAF bases and air shows and see the aircraft soaring through the skies.

The contest was launched by RAF Lossiemouth to mark the disbandment of the final Tornado squadron at the Moray Base. The XV Reserve squadron is set to disband today (Friday, March 31) after 102 years of service.

Cathy told us: “I'm absolutely delighted to have won. To have my photo picked out from such a strong field has given me an enormous sense of pride! I'd like to say a massive thank you to Group Captain Godfrey and Wing Commander Froome.”

Over the past 24 years the Squadron has been the life-blood of the front line ensuring the squadrons were provided with combat capable Tornado aircrew.

XV(R) Squadron will be replaced by a fourth Typhoon squadron at RAF Lossiemouth where nine Poseidon P8 aircraft of the UK’s new maritime patrol fleet will also be based in the coming years.

Group Captain Godfrey and Wing Commander Froome, Officer Commanding XV(Reserve) Squadron were in agreement as to the Tornado picture competition winner. 

Wing Commander Froome said: “All of the entries for the competition were great, and the Station Commander and I didn’t find it easy to whittle down the entries to a shortlist – but we both agreed that Cathy’s picture stood out because of her use of monochrome, colour and reflections to create a haunting, atmospheric shot.

The entries show the love and affection the community have for RAF Lossiemouth and the Tornado.”