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Newsletter 17
Summer 2007
Updated on 28Jul2007
Contents
Editorial
Aces, Erks, Backroom Boys
Annual General Meeting
Dunsfold Wings and Wheels
EDO to Project Office
Eric Rubython
F-35 Lightning News
From Ribs to Retirement
Hawk News
Hawker Nimrod Query
Hawker People News
Hunters Still Active
Kingston Aviation Heritage
Members
Programme
Racing Gliders
Unlocking Potential
Upper Heyford Recollection
V/STOL Wheel of Misfortune
Why Pay More

Published by the Hawker Association
for the Members.
Contents © Hawker Association

 
Hawker People News
 
    Sadly we must record the deaths of five well known colleagues: Eric Rubython who was Company Secretary and Director & General Manager of Hawker Aircraft Ltd, Commercial Director and Director & General Manager of Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd and Deputy Chief Executive of British Aerospace Aircraft Group; Chief Test Pilot Neville Duke; Head of Research Cliff Bore; and Maurice Gilson of the DO. Not a Member, but certainly a 'Hawker person', Air Cdre David Scrimgeour, best known to us when in command of the Kestrel Tripartite Evaluation Squadron in 1964, died on April 1. The Association's condolences to all spouses, relatives and friends.  
    We welcome new members Mike Azzopardi, Paul Barber, Betty Bore, Arthur Brocklehurst, Keith Chard, Tony Cripps, Barry Elliot, Ann Martin, Graham Roe, Chris Russell and George Smith.
Eric Rubython

    John Glasscock remembers an eminent 'Hawker' person...
    Members of the Hawker Association and many others have cause to remember Eric Rubython who died earlier this year in San Diego, California, where he had lived for many years.
    In association with (Sir) John Lidbury he helped to establish the commercial strength of Hawker Aircraft and his determination to keep us 'in the black' stood us in good stead in the transition through Hawker Siddeley Aviation and later into British Aerospace.
    Born in 1921, married in 1943, preceded by Army service, he became Company Secretary of Hawker Aircraft Ltd in 1953. Ten years later he joined the Board of Hawker Siddeley Aviation as General Manager, Hawker-Blackburn Division and moved steadily into more senior positions - Commercial Director, General Manager, Managing Director and Chairman.
    He was appointed to the Organising Committee of British Aerospace prior to nationalisation, became a Board member and Deputy Chief Executive of the Aircraft Group in 1977, the position he held until his retirement in 1982 - when he 'emigrated'!