A FORMER pupil of Cirencester College and Royal Air Force (RAF) serviceman, Sergeant John Veitch, will be participating in the military's parachute display season this year.

John, 30, who is from Cirencester, began his second display season on October 29 as part of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team.

John said: “It is an honour to have been selected for the RAF Falcons, and it will undoubtedly be the pinnacle of my career to have the opportunity to perform displays with my team mates around the world.”

For over 50 years, the UK Military’s Parachute Display Team, the RAF Falcons, have delivered fast paced, high profile displays from up to 12,000ft across the UK and abroad.

Each member of the RAF Falcons has been specially selected for their role, and as well as putting on spectacular displays for the public to enjoy, they also undertake training to prepare them for advanced parachute jumping instructor roles, where they will be responsible for the delivery of operationally focused parachute training for the entire UK Military.

John joined the RAF in April 2006 as a physical training instructor.

In 2012, he took a turn in his career and chose to specialise as a parachute jumping instructor.

Due to his highly skilled parachuting ability, John was then selected for his current role on the RAF Falcons in 2015.

The RAF Falcons have completed their winter training in preparation for the 2017 display season, which commences on Friday, May 5 with the Team’s Launch Day at RAF Brize Norton.

To find out more, visit www.raf.mod.uk/falcons.