ONE of the last remaining Battle of Britain pilots and former 'Old Boy' of Ermysted's Grammar School has died at the age of 95.

Wing Commander Richard Gordon Battensby 'Dick' Summers OBE, OStJ, AFM, who died on May 7, was born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, in 1921 and attended Ermysted's from 1935 to 1939.

When he left Ermysted’s, he joined the RAF and was fast-tracked into active service. With the 219 Squadron, he took part in the Battle of Britain and became “one of the few” immortalised in Winston Churchill’s famous speech.

In 1940 he joined the Ferry Pool and Defence Flight at Takoradi, West Africa, where pilots suffered extreme contrasts in temperature and, because of the sand, the average life span of an aircraft engine was just 40 hours.

In July 1941, the young Summers crash-landed on a beach in Liberia. To avoid capture, he set off barefoot, walking 48 miles before taking to the sea, where he was picked up by a passing British merchantman.

Aged just 21, he was awarded the Air Force Medal. Two years later, he was posted as bomber leader to 48 Squadron at Gibraltar and in 1944 he returned home to be bombing leader at Aldergrove. He continued to hold a number of armament office positions until the end of the war

From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his “gallant and distinguished services”. He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.

In November, 2010, he returned to his old school to take part in its Armistice Day service and to receive a 70th anniversary memorial plaque in his name.

The plaque was one of a number presented by The Battle of Britain Historical Society with the aim of preserving the memories of those who took part in the Second World War battle.

Wing Commander Summers, who was 89 at the time, travelled to Skipton from his home in Cheltenham, accompanied by his family.

But his involvement happened by chance after an appeal for information about him was seen in the Hull Daily Mail by his niece. His details were then published on the Battle of Britain Forum and seen by the twin brother of the then head of music at Ermysted’s, Simon Gregory.

After being presented with the plaque by the then headteacher, Graham Hamilton, Wing Commander Summers spoke of how pleased he was to be back at his old school.

He said when he was a pupil, the then headmaster, Mr McIntosh, was keen on corporal punishment, but despite being caned, he had survived.

From 1953 to 1956, he was again in the midst of action as deputy station commander at RAF East Leigh, Kenya, during the Mau Mau emergency. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his “gallant and distinguished services”. He retired from the RAF in 1968 as a Wing Commander.

A memorial service will be held for Wing Commander 'Dick' Summers on June 22 at 11.30 am at All Souls Church, New Lane, Sutton Green, Surrey.