THE sculpture commemorating Red Arrows ace Jon Egging has been officially reopened at its new location.

Bournemouth Mayor Lawrence Williams, Jon’s widow Dr Emma Egging and his mum Dawn Egging attended the opening ceremony, yesterday, where they tied red ribbons of remembrance around the artwork.

Dr Egging, who was joined by many members of the Jon Egging Trust, said: “Pilots often talk about, that on the greyest of days if you fly up high enough you’ll always find blue skies.

“That is something that Jon believed in, something Jon didn’t just think should be accessible to a few. We all have occasions when there are grey skies - young people in particular who face challenges in their lives.

“For them to have the support,to build the skills they need to overcome, is what the trust is all about. Having these jets soaring into the sky really encapsulates Jon’s positive personality, the excellence of the Reds and everything the Jon Egging Trust does to support young people.”

The trust works to support people, aged 13-16, in difficult circumstances to overcome adversity.

The statue now stands adjacent to the top of the East Cliff Zig-Zag, slightly west of its former position, where it had remained cordoned off on safety grounds following a landslip last year.

Cllr Williams said: “All of Bournemouth was devastated that day in 2011 when Jon lost his life.

“This sculpture and the work of the Jon Egging Trust both represent a lasting tribute to his memory. New information boards tell the story of the sculpture and the trust - I hope this will motivate many to pause and consider making a donation to the good work they do.”

The five metre tall sculpture, which features three glass planes and stainless steel contrails embedded with red, white and blue glass discs, was unveiled at a ceremony in August 2012.

However, in April 2016, tonnes of rock and rubble just yards from the memorial plunged onto Bournemouth promenade as a large section of the East Cliff collapsed.

The cliff-top pathway and steps near the artwork were ripped apart in the landslip, and a cafe toilet block at the base of the cliffs was destroyed.

Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who was 33, died when his Hawk T1 aircraft crashed following a display at the 2011 Bournemouth Air Festival.

The memorial was created by Tim Ward of Circling the Square and designed by Kinson Primary School students Penny Vallier and George Cutler, then aged 10 and nine.