Inverness singer’s track, Born to Fly, to be brought out as CD RAF Lossiemouth campaign song gets its first airing By Donna MacAllister

Published: 20/01/2011

GOOD FEELING: Singer-songwriter Karla Bernardi, of Inverness, is happy to help out. David Whittaker-Smith

The song that will front the campaign to save RAF Lossiemouth was performed in Moray for the first time last night.

Inverness singer-songwriter Karla Bernardi’s track, Born to Fly, was crowned the official soundtrack for the battle to save the closure-threatened airbase.

The 25-year-old, of Culduthel Road, said it was a “good feeling” to be part of the fight to keep defence in Moray.

Until this year the area’s two RAF bases at Kinloss and Lossiemouth contributed more than £150million to the local economy annually.

RAF Lossiemouth now faces falling victim to Ministry of Defence budget-saving measures – after Kinloss, which has recently suffered that fate.

Ms Bernardi performed before an audience at the Moray Playhouse after a special screening of the 1955 British war film, The Dam Busters.

The 617 Dambuster Squadron is currently based at RAF Lossiemouth. The singer said: “It’s great to do this and try and help the campaign. Its a good feeling.”

Last night’s screening also carried a special message of support from Hollywood.

Elgin-born actor Kevin McKidd, who starred in the films Trainspotting and Dog Soldiers, as well as TV series Rome, told the crowd: “Lossiemouth is rightly proud of its station as the home of the squadron.

“The RAF matters in Moray and I am sure you will agree that this is where it should stay.”

Last night’s screening and song performance was the latest in a long line of steps being taken to highlight the crucial role of the RAF in Moray.

Campaigners, led by the Save RAF Lossie Action Group, travelled through the night by coach to London to hand-deliver a 32,000-name petition to Lossiemouth earlier this month. And more than 7,000 people marched through Lossiemouth the month before.

The leader of Save the RAF Lossiemouth Action Group and SNP Lossiemouth councillor Dave Stewart said he was “delighted” with the latest phase of the campaign.

He said: “We will get the CDs of the new song produced next week and it will be on sale on the internet at iTunes and on YouTube.

“I think its an absolutely brilliant song, its better than half of the songs that are in the charts right now.”

CDs will be sent to Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Liam Fox in London.


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