Ex-A: No, no suggestion that 808 was the flypast aircraft that day, and I've no way of knowing which one was. I was simply reflecting on the happy coincidence that as one symbol of an era (essentially VC10, but with a bit of Victor B1) was laid to rest, another (the first of the fleet) was being taken north to be resuscitated.
And no, I wasn't Nav that day either, though I was amongst the audience for the flypast - I don't recall there being anything amiss with it at all!
Like you, I'd be delighted to see the original paint scheme restored but I've a feeling that would be a tad on the costly side.