A former newspaper editor has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by piloting an aeroplane at the age of 83.

Roy Baker, former editor of the Exeter Express & Echo, took the controls of a Cessna - and in doing so achieved what he failed to do 60 years earlier when he decided he was too scared to fly.

As a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Roy was chosen to fly a Spitfire but turned down the opportunity.

However since then he has always hankered to have a go and decided to take the opportunity during an aviation day at Exeter Airport.

He said: "I got up there and the instructor handed over to me and said I was in control. He kept his hands over the dual control, but I had no problem at all.

"I felt really good and it was a beautiful day. It's quite something when you are 2,000ft up there.

"I don't know what really pushed me to do it. I think I merely became suddenly aware of the opportunity and took it. I realised it was an opportunity to be grasped."

Roy worked as a junior reporter at the Express & Echo in the late 1930s. He rejoined the paper in 1968 and spent 14 years as editor.

He then spent two years at the Herald Express in Torquay, retiring in 1984.

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