PRINCE PHILIP was a flyer, but he wasn't a fan of constant aircraft noise.

Heathrow kindly arranged for landings on the southern 09 runway during the funeral service so not a trace in Windsor of what the Duke once referred to as a 'bloody racket'!

Not quite so in Southampton, alas.

My neighbours, I'm delighted to say, mostly observed impeccable silence on a beautiful day.

One chap, however, took advantage of free use of the local navigational beacon for some free training, flying numerous racetrack patterns in the sky after airport staff closed watch at 1300hrs.

A hold off over a less populated area of Hampshire at 1500hrs would have been appreciated.

Nonetheless, it would be churlish not to wish the pilot a speedy instrument (flying) licence.

Terry Hickman,

Southampton