Exeter businessman Martin Philips was given a very odd fortieth birthday present in November 1999. It was a small rivet in a matchbox.

With the rivet came a challenge to fulfill a childhood dream to build a Spitfire. Firstly, he found a fuselage of RR 232 was purchased in West Sussex for £70 and then thanks to local knowledge a wing was salvaged from a hedgerow near Exeter.  

The work then began over the next thirteen years and on a limited budget she slowly started to come to life. Original parts were stripped and strictly tested for airworthiness and new parts were manufactured to drawings and patterns.                        

Finally she was given her certificate of airworthiness and flew from Filton. Martin said: "Our first flight was from Bristol and much to my relief safely came back again. RR232 is quite often seen and heard flying over Sidmouth along with a twin-seater Spitfire flown by local pilot Matt Jones."            

Now the spitfire is complete, and can be seen flying around Sidmouth from time to time. Martin is holding a talk on his amazing full story in Sidbury village hall on 18 September at 7 30.

Tickets are available from Drew’s and Paragon books Sidmouth with proceeds of the talk being donated to Royal British Legion poppy appeal and Sarcoma cancer charity.

Andy Webb has known Martin for 35 years and is sure that the talk will appeal to ladies and gentlemen of all ages. There will be a question and answer session after the talk.

The Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire remains popular among enthusiasts. Around 70 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world.

The Spitfire went through many variants, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined Mk 24, using several wing configurations and guns.