MORE than 100 kind-hearted villagers have donated money to enable the only female-piloted Spitfire to be the centrepiece at this year’s Proms by the Sea.

Aldeburgh’s Proms on the Seafront Musical Spectacular will celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with the concert on Sunday, June 3.

The flypast by the Grace Spitfire – named after its pilot Carolyn Grace – was made possible by villagers who gave �20 each.

The free event, which is sponsored by the East Anglian Daily Times, will take place just in front of the White Lion Hotel, next to the Moot Hall, on Aldeburgh seafront.

Organiser Peter Osborne said: “We not only wanted to honour the Queen’s Jubilee but the wonderful town and coastal resort of Aldeburgh.

“This event shows what a community can do and we hope to celebrate this with residents and visitors alike, as well as raising money for important local charities.

“I am very honoured that my idea has come to life, with some key people involved who helped bring Proms by the Sea come to fruition.”

At 6.30pm the local Stagecoach School of Music and Dance from Ipswich will kick off the celebrations with performances from children aged between four and 18 years.

Emerging local multi-instrumentalist Rachel King will play from 7.30pm, followed by versatile female vocalist Stephanie Coombes.

The 21-piece national Festival Orchestra, with Nicholas Ward at the helm and Jeremy Hughes conducting, will then begin the Prom Spectacular.

At 8.10pm the historic Grace Spitfire will be flying overhead to perform a display to music from the war era.

The Festival Orchestra will then go through until 10.30pm with a rousing finale of Pomp and Circumstance and a stunning firework display.

Pop-up stalls will be based around the stage selling local food and drink throughout the evening.

The event is free to attend but all proceeds via charitable collections and donations will be in aid of the Aldeburgh United Charities, RNLI and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.