This Is Your Life: Ivor Broom

Air Marshal Sir Ivor BROOM KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC and Two Bars, AFC (1920-2003)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Ivor Broom, senior Royal Air Force commander, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of Michael Graydon - outside St Clement Danes Church, on London's Fleet Street, following a service commemorating the RAF's 77th anniversary.

Ivor, who was born in Cardiff, began his working life in the civil service before joining the RAF in May 1940. As a bomber pilot during the Second World War, he completed over 100 missions and received the DSO, three DFCs and an AFC. After the war, he was commanding officer of several squadrons before holding various posts, including commandant of the Central Flying School.

In the 1970s, he was in charge of the UK's air defence group for three years, and later of National Air Traffic Services, and became the first serving officer to join the board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Having retired from the RAF as Air Marshal in 1977, he remained actively engaged in civil aviation.

"Oh no! I don't believe it! I don't believe it! You rascals, this is incredible!"

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