THREE iconic RN Sea King Mk7 helicopters made a special detour to The Royal School, Haslemere, on their last flight on Wednesday.

The Sea King is being retired and decommissioned after 49 years of active military operations and the helicopters left the air base at Culdrose at 9.15am on on their final journey to HMS Sultan, in Gosport.

The detour to The Royal Junior School in Hindhead, was a flypast in memory of Lt Marc Lawrence, a Sea King Observer with 849 Squadron, who died in active service in 2003 when two Sea King ASAC helicopters of 849 Squadron collided in flight, with the loss of all seven crew-members.

A mother at The Royal Junior School, who was engaged to Lt Lawrence when he died, visited the school with her husband to join staff and pupils as the Sea Kings flew over the school.

The children assembled on the school field with a large white ensign, The Royal Navy’s flag, to commemorate this final Sea King flight. The Royal School has a long history and connection with the Royal Navy and is affiliated to HMS Diamond.

*For full story and pictures see next week’s Haslemere Herald