THE family at the helm of Compton Abbas airfield has said a final farewell to the site after more than 35 years of ownership. 

Clive Hughes and wife Margaret have spearheaded operations at the airfield near Shaftesbury since 1987 and last year agreed to sell ownership to film director Guy Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estates Ltd.

The Hughes family took to social media to thank their ‘wonderful customers and suppliers’ who had supported them in more than three decades since they started running the airfield.

In a statement, the family said: “We feel fortunate and proud to be handing over this wonderful airfield, modelled as it has been over the years, by such a fantastic group of people. 

“We have worked with wonderful customers and suppliers over the years and have had some brilliant events with all sorts of charities and organisations. 

“We would also like to say a huge thank you to our long suffering locals who, it must be said, have been very supportive and appreciated the fact that we had embraced them in much of our decision making over the years, particularly regarding noise abatement routings and operating hours. Your support has meant an awful lot to us.

“To sum up, we will miss you all, we are very grateful to everyone who's been a part of this amazing airfield experience during the last 35 years, whether it be pilot, staff member, volunteer or just someone who got great joy from just looking up as the planes fly by.

"An airfield such as ours is only as great as the people who make it so; and that is you so thank you."

It was revealed in October of last year that Mr Ritchie would purchase the airfield after 34 years of ownership by the Hughes family.

Last month it was announced that Ashcombe Estates Ltd, which takes over from February 1, would close the airfield to all but resident aircraft for four weeks to allow for renovations to take place.

In a letter signed by Mr Ritchie, Ashcombe Estates said the plans for renovation had been “informed by feedback from the community” and were part of its “commitment to investing in the future of the airfield”.

The company had previously announced improvements would be made to the existing buildings and infrastructure - though saying it would be “done in a sympathetic manner”.