Base commander Group Captain David Cooper said he was delighted with the turn-out of local people and that the base was saved from closure.

BBC: Downham Market residents salute RAF Marham Tornado crews

David and Beverley Cooper, from Glenrothes, found the spider on Wednesday inside their fridge next to a box of grapes.

BBC: Exotic spider found in Fife fridge

Besides Branson (along with his wife, Joan), Pinchuk and Tan, the new Pledgers are: Andrew and Nicola Forrest (Australia), Patrice and Precious Motsepe (South Africa), Hasso Plattner (Germany), Vladimir Potanin (Russia), Azim Premji (India) and John Caudwell, Chris and Jamie Cooper-Hohn, Mo Ibrahim, David Sainsbury (all from the U.K).

FORBES: The Giving Pledge Goes Global -- Warren Buffett Details America's Latest 'Export'

He was joined at the event by Walsall North MP David Winnick and Kidderminster's Health Concern agent, Malcolm Cooper.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | West Midlands | Hundreds rally to save hospital

CNN's Kyra Phillips, David Mattingly, Tracy Sabo, Patrick Oppmann, Scott Bronstein, Patty Lane and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report.

CNN: BP robots steer cap to spewing well