‘Such a shame’: Edinburgh locals react to Red Arrows cancellation

Edinburgh residents have reacted with disappointment to the news that the famous Red Arrows air display over the city was cancelled this morning.

Thick clouds and poor visibility above the Capital meant the Arrows team, who were touring locations across the UK today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, had to call off the show.

Reacting to the cancellation announcement, Yvonne Inglis said: “No wonder I didn't hear them fly over! Such a shame, I was looking forward to it too.”

Richard Pleass said he was “all ready for them” and was “gutted” by the news.

But Roy Maisey disagreed. “Do we really need the Red Arrows?” he asked, “It seems to me to be a terrible waste of money and, more importantly, an unnecessary addition to pollution, just for people to look into the sky and say ‘Ahh!’”

Some residents in the Lothians managed to catch wind of the Red Arrows despite the cancellation.

Susan Laing said she heard the “very loud” aircraft fly over Bonnyrigg in Midlothian, and Julie Davidson heard them fly over Penicuik, but said it was “too cloudy to see them.”

The Red Arrows carrying out a flypast over Belfast to mark VJ Day. (SCpl Adam Fletcher/RAF/PA Wire)

Margaret Boyle said it was a “shame” because a “few of us had gathered on a hill in Baberton” to watch. She said the kids were “disappointed” not to see the Arrows.

But Frank Power expressed understanding. “That's a shame,” he wrote. But, he added, “safety comes first!”

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