Archived News Items 2017
Items that have been on the News page but are no longer current are generally transferred to an archive.
16 December Sadly Duncan Simpson has died after suffering the after-
14 December A Duncan Simpson Memorial Service will NOT be held as cancelled (was at St Clement Danes (WC2R 1DH) on Tuesday 24th April at 11am, afterwards at the RAF Club, to which all are welcome.)
I am sad to tell you that my Uncle Anthony Gibbs passed away on 2nd November 2017. There will be a memorial service on 30th November at St Mary the Virgin Chessington, 4 Garrison Lane, Chessington, KT9 2LB starting at 12.00 midday with refreshments in the hall next door afterwards. Any friends would be more than welcome.
Adam Goodchild, Anthony Gibbs nephew
13 December There was an excellent lunch Xmas; photos
9 December Newsletter 49 Winter 2017 PDF is available online.
1 November Sadly we have learnt of the death of our friend Chris Rostant, who for many years worked in the Airworthiness Department at Kingston and Farnborough. The funeral will take place at Guildford Crematorium on Thursday 9th November at 2.15pm. Barry Pegram.
1 October Adam Davies informs us that his Grandfather Frank Harrall sadly passed away on 1st October aged 93. Frank joined Hawkers in 1938 and clocked up 49 years of service at the Ham site before retiring. I believe that Frank was head of the experimental division when he retired. Frank always spoke with great affection of his time at Hawker / British Aerospace. He was a wonderful man who will be sadly missed. (Neither were members of the Association but some may remember Frank).
On Thursday, 28th September, 2017 sadly Keith John Chapman passed away peacefully, at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford after an illness of six months.
On 27 September 21 members had a very interesting visit to Yeolvilton Royal Navy Air Station Historic Flight (RNHF); Story, Photos
25 September Sadly I have received this message.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am emailing you to inform you of the death of Glynne Parker (dob 11.01.1946), after a battle with cancer, on Friday 22nd September 2017.
The funeral will be held at 11.30 on Friday the 6th of October 2017 at the Lytham Park Crematorium, FY8 4AB. If members wish to attend, please be aware that the family are asking for no mourning attire and donations to Myeloma UK and the Rosemere Centre, Royal Preston Hospital.
Yours sincerely, Lorna Davies”
Also Mike Diprose says:
He leaves his wife, Jocelyn, 2 daughters and grandchildren and lived not far from Warton.
Glynne and I were at Kingston College of Technology together in the mid 1960's and he worked in Systems Engineering in the 1970's. He left to join MOD and held RTO positions in both Munich and Warton over the years. He was a super person, -
On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September the Richmond Road Factory Heritage Open Days centenary exhibition at the Hawker Centre was extremely successful with more than 871 visitors including 125 children. That was more than the total of all the other 17 Heritage Open Days events in Kingston. Story and photos.
8 July Unfortunately Dick Duffell passed away this week from a very short cancer illness, and Nick Moorland passed away last week.
27 June Newsletter 48 (Summer) PDF is available online.
On 14 June there was super weather for the excellent Summer BBQ. Story, photos
7 June Sadly Ken Davies died on 14 June 2017. Ken’s funeral will be held at Guildford Crematorium (Map), New Pond Rd, Shalford, Godalming GU7 3DB at 12 noon on Thursday 13th July. Ken was also Secretary of the Royal Aeronautical Society Weybridge Branch.
On 26th April sadly Bryan Austin passed away after a short illness. The funeral will be at Randalls Park Crematorium, Randalls Road, Leatherhead KT22 0AG at 10am on the 15th May, afterwards, until 2pm, at West End Sports & Social Club, West End Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8LF
At the AGM held on April 12th a new Chairman was elected following the retirement of Ambrose Barber who held that position since the founding of the Association. Our Chairman is now Chris Roberts, well known to many members as Chief Test Pilot at Dunsfold and for the talks he has given to the Association.
The Committee thanks Ambrose for his long and excellent leadership and welcomes Chris with best wishes for an enjoyable and successful tenure as Chairman.
Sadly we have been told Paul Wilson has died. There will be a service at 14:20 on 29 March at South West Middlesex Crematorium, Hounslow Road, Hanworth, Feltham, TW13 5JU followed by a Wake in a function room of the Magpie pub (note change), 64 Thames St, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 6AF where there will be welcome drink. The Wake is intended for friends and colleagues of Paul who kept in touch with him over the years. If you wish to attend could you please let Rod Saar know at saar559@btinternet.com.
09 Mar Newsletter 47 (Spring) PDF is available online.
Sadly on Tuesday 14th February 2017 at the age of 93 Roy Adolphus, former Production Director, passed away in Kingston Hospital. A Family private service of cremation will be held at Woking Crematorium on Monday 6th March at 14:45. LOn Wednesday 8 February Gp Capt Jock Heron will talk onthe F105 Thunderchief -
18 February Sorry the web site has not been up to date due to illness and problems with the web server. Richard Cannon Webmaster.