A 92-year-old Island man had the chance to fly in a light aircraft as part of his care home’s new initiative to make dreams come true. 

Eric made the short trip from Springfield Nursing Home in Shanklin to Sandown Airport, where local pilot, Jim Birnie, flew Eric and Eric's daughter, Denise, above the Island.

“It was a wonderful experience,” Eric said.

“We flew at around 1,400ft to 1,500ft, then came down to around 1,300ft when we were above Cowes, so I could see the place I was born more closely.”

The flight was part of Hartford Care’s Dream Big, Live Big campaign, which has been rolled out across its 21 homes.

Nikki Clark, hospitality and wellbeing lead at Hartford Care and co-creator of the initiative, said: “It was such a pleasure to see how much Eric enjoyed his flight.

Springfield’s activities co-ordinator Phil Bell and the team did such a wonderful job arranging this for Eric.

"There’s been a real buzz around the home knowing something so exciting was going to happen!”