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Andrew Netherwood was Yorkshire-born but raised in Harrold. He was born in Sheffield in 1970 and came to Harrold with his family at the age of four. He and his sister, Gail, both attended Harrold Lower School and Andrew took part in many village activities, including Harrold Cubs and the Table Tennis Club (then a popular activity at The Centre). His mother, Chris Netherwood, still lives at the family home in the High Street and Gail lives not far away in Bedford.

At the age of eleven Andrew went to Bedford Modern School and it was there that he discovered and nurtured his love of flying through his membership of the Combined Cadet Force. He acquired his pilot’s licence at seventeen, even before he was qualified to drive. Leaving school at eighteen, he went to Cardiff University. There he continued to fly and gained a good degree in Economics. Andrew then enlisted at the RAF College Cranwell where he graduated as a Pilot Officer.

Andrew’s planes just got bigger; he eventually moved on to the huge C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft and spent three years in South Carolina learning  to fly this military monster (the RAF had acquired four such planes from Boeing by 2001).  It was in flying this plane that Andrew experienced active service and eventually the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross by the United States (only the second British airman to be thus honoured by the Americans).

In 1996 he married Angela who is now a GP in Oxfordshire. They have two daughters, Katie and Abby. Andrew is currently based at RAF Brize Norton. He was made a Squadron Leader in January, 2007 and celebrated his 40th birthday in December 2010.

The DFC was presented to Andrew at a ceremony on 21st November 2011 at RAF Brize Norton (see above). Well done Andrew! When you are next fling directly over Harrold, tip a wing in celebration !