THE TIMES Friday July 222016 1GM

Captain Er c Winkle Brown

MVOr~IiaSiRG.iiiL BELOW: [Bills GAYLABO The Duke of York KG, Commodore-in-Chief Fleet Beckelt, Mr Peter Benn, Mr Alan Blacker, Mr Air Arm, and patron, Fly Navy Heritage Trust Michael Blacker, Mr Simon Blacker, Mrs attended an event to celebrate the life and Deborah Blacker, Mr and Mrs John Blunden, Mr achievements of the world’s greatest test pilot Tertius Bonnin, Mrs Michelle Bonnin, Mr Connor Captain Eric Melrose-Brown DSC, ArC Royal Bowcott, Mr Ian Brannick, Mr Andrew Brookes, Navy, held on Thursday, July 21, at the Royal Mrs Veronica Bryant, Mr Mike Buckland, Mr Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset. The Peter Campbell, Mr and Mrs Jack Cant, Mr prime minister was represented by Sir Gerald Victor Chavez, Mr Steve Cheyne, Mr Nick Childs, Howarth MP. Mr Stephen Clarke, Miss Laura Clarke, Miss Ian Wheatley, chaplain of the Tracey Clempson, Mr Frank Colenso, Mr Gary Fleet and to the Copeland, Mr and Mrs Tom Corfield, Mr John officiated and pronounced the blessing. Rear- Corless, Mr Jason Corless, Mr Hugh Craig, Mr Keith Blount (Assistant Chief of Naval Bob Crosby, Mr Mike Cuttell, Mr P Dale, Miss Staff — Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Rebecca Dailey, Mr John Davies, Mrs Melanie de Carriers) read the lesson. Commander Sue Eagles (communications Watts, Mr Hugh Dibley, Mr Jonathan Dickens, director, Fly Navy Heritage Trust) read the Mr Geoff Douthwaite, Mr Richard Dumville, Mrs poem High Flight by John Magee. Elizabeth Duff, Mr and Mrs Roger Earl, Mr The Duke of York KG, Admiral Sir Philip Hesketh Emden, Mr Nick English, Mr Giles Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, English, Mr Cohn Evans, Mr Tim Fagan, Mr Marc Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Vice-Admiral Ben Farrance, Mr John ray, Mr Roy Finlayson, Mr Key, and Senior Royal Navy Mark Fitzgerald, Mr James Flanagan, Mrs Ruth Aviator, Colonel Paul Beaver, Captain Todd Fletcher, Mr Ben Francis, Mrs Jennifer Franks, Wilson, United States Navy Liaison to the Royal Mr Marcus Fysh MP, Mrs Amanda Gallahar, Mr Navy, Mr Jeremy Miles (Miles Aircraft Richard Gardner, Mr and Mrs Gordon Gardiner, Company), Mr Anthony J Blackman and Mr Mr Rob Gearing, Miss Gemma Gearing, Mr and Glenn Melrose-Brown, son, paid tribute to Mrs David Gibbings, Mr Bob Gibson, Mr Terry Captain Melrose-Brown and his remarkable Giles, Mr Stephen Glancey, Mr John Goodman, career as a test pilot and aircraft carrier Mr and Mrs Anthony Gomm, Mr and Mrs Ronald pioneer. Grant Captain Ted Hackett, Mr Mark Haddinan, During the commemoration, the Yeovilton Mrs Melanie Haddinan, Mr Roger Hall and Petty Military Wives Choir, directed by Mr Matthew Officer Janet Hall WRNS, Mr John Hallam, Mr Rock, sang Sailing by Rod Stewart, which was Gordon Hamilton, Master Eachan Hardie, Dr Eric~ final choice of music when he was a guest David Hardie, Ms Mary Hardy, Mr Patrick on the 3000th edition of Radio 4’s Desert Island Harrison, Mr Nicholas Harrison, Mr Andrew Discs. The Band of the , Healey, Mr and Mrs David Heritier, the Rev Plymouth, directed by Major R P Long, Captain Brown with the helmet he wore In the 1950s when based In the US. Below: a Sea Vixen, among many aIrcraft flown Andrew Hillier, Mr and Mrs Thomas Horton, Mr performed a selection of concert band items, and Mrs Alan Hughes, Mr Christopher Hunt Mr including Those Magnificent Men in their Flying David Hunt, Mr Maurice Hynett, Mr Andrew Machines by Ron Goodwin, and music from the Jack, Mrs Jennifer Jacomb, Mr and Mrs Jeremy big band era. Miss Emily Horton was the James, Mr ‘Spike’ Jepson, Mr Brian Johnson, Mr compere. Celebrated aviator and test pilot Simon Jones, Mr Mark Jones, Mr and Mrs J. Among others present were: Mrs Jean Kelly, Jowett, Ms Sarah Kenny, Mr Ewan Kelbie, Mrs Mrs Glenn Melrose-Brown with other members Jennifer King, Mr Keith Knowles, Mr Robert of the family. involvement in British innovative avia Grumman Wildcat and Hawker Sea Kramer, Mr Richard Lake, Mr Lars Landsnes, Mr Also present were: Lady Howarth, Lady Lygo, All Kefford Knut Lande, Mrs Gill Laurijssen, Mr Nick Lay, Sir Richard and Lady Matthews, Sir Humphry tion went from flying the Blackburn Hurricane, swept in over verdant coun Ms Louise Lee, Mrs Carol Lee, Mr Martin Lee and the Hon Lady Wakefeld, Lady Zambellas, Eric Brown first came to RNAS Yeovil Skua fighterto advising on the develop tryside surrounding Yeovilton, the Bapty, Mr Simon Levy, Mr John Le Warne, Mr Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjam’n Bathurst, ton on the day it opened in 1940, when ment ofthe F-35, set to fly from our new throb of their engines echoing across Paul Le Warne, Mr Darren Lewington, Mr Dan Lewis, Mr Jeremy Liber, Mr John Ling, Mr and Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, Admiral Sir Michael “it was nothing but three runways in an Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. - the air station. Layard, Vice-Admiral Sir Adrian Johns and Lady Mrs Anthony Little, Mr Derek Long, Mr Ian - Johns, Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville, Vice ocean of mud’~ - Brown — nicknamed “Winkle Brown knew no fear but was never McDonald, Mr James Mackenzie, Mr Don Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod, Vice-Admiral A. Workmen had to be moved before because of his diminutive height — blasé about his achievements, describ Maclame, Mr Phil Macquaid, Mr Robert Jonathan Woodcock (Second Sea Lord and each take-offand thefledgling pilot had remains revered worldwide through ing deck landings as “one of the most Manergh, Mr Tim Manna, Mr Geoff Maple, Mr Deputy Chief of Naval Staff), Rear-Admiral RH. his first accident there, belly-flopping out the military and aviation industry demanding things you can do as a Richard Martell, Mr Fred Marsh, Mr and Mrs Burn, Rear-Admiral Paul Bennett (Assistant his Gloster Gladiator biplane into a pile for his flying genius and unswerving pilot’ John Marshall, Mr and Mrs Howard Mason, Mr Chief of Naval Staff — Capability), Rear-Admiral Jacob Matthews, Mr Philip Matthews, Mr and of rubble. passion for British carrier strike. “When landing on a carrier you are Mrz David Mauleverer, Mr Martin Mayer, Mr Paul Chivers1 Rear-Admiral Chris Clayton, Rear fle-ffnv’Ma,tlots from escort carrier essentially aiming for a small lay-by in 0 rwriLo9e rust), Kear-Adimral and Mrs Simon Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Michael May, Mrs Jane May, Mr James Charlier, Rear-Admiral Tom Cunningham HMS Audacity during the early stages the middle of a large lake:’ he said. “It is McDermott, Mr Stu McLaren, Dr Simon whairman, Fly Navy Heritage Trust) and Mrs Arm, Fir~t Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip of the Battleofthe Atlantic surviving Mitchell, Mr Dave Morris, Mr Graham Mottram, Jones and more than 650 Royal Navy a three-dimensional problem through Cunningham, Rear-Admiral and Mrs Russ her sinking. However, it was during his a fog, with none of the same visual Mr Roy Moxam, Mr Jim Munro, Mr and Mrs Bob Harding, Rear-Admiral Graeme Mackay, Rear- personnel, fellow test pilots, scientists Neill, Mr and Mrs William Nichol-Gent, Mr and Admiral James Rapp, Rear-Admiral A.R. six-year stint at RAE Farnborough in references you get in land.” and members of the aviation and aero the later stages of the war that his tal Mrs Anthony Oakes, Mr Christopher Orlebar, Mr Rawbone, Rear-Admiral Ian Tibbitt (deputy nautical industries gathered at the Brown donated his original test Jon Parkinson, Mr Keith Partington, Mr Stephen chairman, Fly Navy Heritage Trust) and Mrs ents as a scientist and engineer blended flying overalls, helmet and uniforms to Partridge-Hicks, Miss Lucasta Partridge-Hicks, Tibbitt, Rear-Admiral and Mrs John Tolhurst, same air station to commemorate the with a searing intellect that resulted in Dr Niky Jane Pauii, Miss Kelly Paull, Mr Clarence life of a man who rose from that skir the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, which Rear-Admiral Simon Williams, Air Vice-Marshal him playing a key role at the zenith of hosted his commemorative event at Paull, Mr David Pauhi, Ms Gillian Paull, Mr John Ponsonby (senior vice-president Leonardo mish with Somerset soil to become the experimental flying. George Payne, Mr Martin Payne, Mr Stephen Helicopters and trustee, Fly Navy Heritage world’s greatest military test pilot. their hangar. Pearce, Mr Richard Pearce, Ms Cath Pearman, Trust), Commodore Jon Pentreath (commanding The Duke of York said: “The current He charged the charity to use his Mr James Pegg, Mr Craig Penrice, Mr Robert officer, RNAS Yeovilton), Commodore Jock Captain Eric Brown, who died in Royal Navy is all about carrier aviation, February this year aged 97, flew 487 legacy to inspire new generations of Pooley, Mr Mat Potulski, Mr Chive Powell, Mr Alexander (chief executive, Fly Navy Heritage about getting us back into that game. aviators. Stephen Prince, Mr Peter Rainbird, Mr John Trust), Commodore and Mrs Simon Baldwin, different military aircraft from Without Eric we couldn’t possibly have Rawlinson, Mrs Ali Rayden, Mr Christopher Commodore David Bartlett, Commodore Matt “lt~ vital people are aware ofour her gliders andjets to helicopters — includ achieved where we are going. He was a Rayner, Mr Adam Reynolds, Mrs Jayne Briers, Commodore David Childs, Commodore ing many during their dangerous initial itage,” he said. “After I am gone, I hope Richardson, Mr Norman Richardson, Mr Peter Bill Covington (trustee, Fly Navy Heritage truly inspirational person:’ that the aircraft will be well looked Roberts, Mrs Mary Roberts, Mr Paul Roberts, Trust) and Mrs Covington, Commodore David testing phase. Yesterday’s commemoration was Elford, Commodore Andrew Jameson, He made 2,407 landings on carriers after, and that the men who flew them Mr Arnold Rosen, Dr Chris Royle, Mrs Sarah attended by Eric’s son, Glenn Melrose and those who laid down their lives in Royle, Mr Simon Runagall, Mr John Runyard, Mr Commodore Anthony King, Commodore Simon at sea and 2,271 take-offs, world records Brown, and his companion in later life, David Russell, Mr Michael Ryan (trustee, Fly Kings, Commodore Jamie Miller, Brigadier Mark which will almost certainly remain them will never be forgotten:’ Noble RM and Mrs Noble, Commodore and Mrs Mrs Jean Kelly. Navy Heritage Trust), Ms Laila Sadler, Chris Palmer, Commodore Duncan Reid, Air unbroken given thatseasoned US Navy A flypast of Mrs Valerie Sayer, Mr Ian Seager, Top Guns notch up about two thirds of Mr and Mrs Brian Service, Mrfrck Commodore Harvey Smyth, Brigadier Richard more than 40 of Seward, Mr Charlie Shea-Sim6’nds, Spencer, Air Commodore Johnny Stringer, these totals. the aircraft that . Mr Reg Simmonds, Mrs Julia Commodore Gary Sutton, Commodore Rick He was the first man to land ajet on Thompson, Commodore and Mrs Simon Brown piloted, Simmonds, Mr Peter Simmonds, Mr Thornewill, Commodore Malcolm Toy, a carrier, and during 70 years of including the Fairey Swordfish, Tim Skeet Mr Alfie Southwelb, Mr Paul Commodore Martin Westwood, Commodore Shakespeare, Mrs Ann Shore, Mr Richard Tobias Williamson, Captain James Band, Shuttleworth, Dr Ronald Smith, Mr Ian Smith, Captain and Mrs Andy Barnwell, Captain Commander and Mrs Tim Gedge, Commander Mr and Mrs Steven Sole, Ms Nicci Sowden, Mr Bartram, Lieutenant-Commander and Mrs John Lieutenant Dan Breward, Lieutenant Ashley and Mrs Andrew Sproule, Mr Drew Steel, Mrs Michael Bickley, Captain Nick Blackman, Captain Darren Goldsmith, Commander Matt Grindon, Basterfield, Lieutenant-Commander Duncan Harry Blackmore, Captain Jerry Boddington, Commander Ian Halliday, Commander and Mrs Bye, Lieutenant James Cooper, Lieutenant Ann Stinton, Mr Andrew Strachan, Mr Stuart . Captain Geoff Bowker, Captain Mark Bradley, Edgar Home, Commander Simon Joll, Brodie, Lieutenant-Commander K. Burbridge, Serena Davidson, Lieutenant Nick Jackson Strachan, Mrs Mary Sturgeon, Mr and Mrs Captain Henry DuTh’, Captain and Mrs David Commander Tim Kelly, Commander Roger Lieutenant-Commander Suzanne Clark, Spence, Lieutenant Matthew Harding, Jonathan Suckling, Mr Andrew Sweetman, Ms Durston, Captain Ivan Finn, Captain and Mrs Kennedy, Commander and Mrs Robin Kent, Lieutenant-Commander S Cox, Lieutenant Ellen Harrison, Lieutenant Charlotte Tracey Swindale, Mr James Tebbett, Mr Mark Garratt, Captain and Mrs Andy Harris, Commander and Mrs Rich Kerslake, Commander Lieutenant-Commander Nathan Dale, Milne, Lieutenant Freddie Morton-King, Jonathan Thomas, Mr Tom Thomson, Mr John Captain and Mrs Fred Hefford, Captain Terence and Mrs Stewart Kilby, Commander Patrick Surgeon-Lieutenant Commander Kelly Davey, Lieutenant Christian Smith, Lieutenant Adam Thorpe, Mr Richard Thwaites, Mr Geoffrey Till, Henderson, Captain Alan Hensher, Captain Peter Lacey, Commander and Mrs Mark Leaning, Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Dodds, Wheldon, Sub Lieutenant Dev Chowdhury, Sub Mrs Geoffrey Till, Mr Tony Tite, Mr Guy Hore, Captain and Mrs Gerry Hunt, Captain Alun Commander Christopher Ling, Commander Lieutenant-Commander Anthony Eagles, Lieutenant Jo Huckstep, Sub Lieutenant Ali Tomlinson, Ms Kate Tonner, Mr and Mrs Michael Jones, Captain Mark Langrill, Captain K.A. Stephen Lynch, Commander James Macdonald, Lieutenant-Commander and Mrs Dave Eagles, Sedgeworth, Sub Lieutenant Martin Young, Turner, Mr Ron Underwood, Mr Matt Walker, Mr Leppard, Captain and Mrs David Lilley, Captain Commander Dave Mackay, Commander and Mrs Lieutenant-Commander Martin Flanagan, Chief Petty Officer John Campbell, Chief Petty and Mrs Christopher Walkinshaw, Mr Gerry James Luard, Captain and Mrs Cohn MacGregor, Mark Macleod, Commander David Marten, Lieutenant-Commander Chris Gdtke, Officer Sandra Parkinson, Petty Officer Air Wabster, Mr and Mrs Simon Watson, Mr and ‘I Captain Sharon Malkin, Captain Rob Mallinson, Commander Henry Mereweather, Commander Lieutenant-Commander Scott Hughes, Engineering Technician Devetill, Petty Officer Mrs Keith Watts, Mr David Weatherley, Mr Captain Cohn Miller, Captain W Morris, Captain Henry Mitchell, Commander Mike Norman, Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Jameson, and Mrs Matthew Evans, Leading Air Gareth Webb, Dr Phil Weir, Mr Chris Welham, and Mrs Mike Nixon, Captain Kieran O’Brien, Lieutenant-Colonel Will Penkman, Commander Lieutenant-Commander Adam Jones, Engineering Technician H Jemison, Leading Mr Arthur Wells, Mr Desmond Wells, Mrs Captain Adrian Orchard, Captain and Mrs Robert and Mrs Aubone Pyke, Commander and Mrs Lieutenant-Commander Earl Kingston, Airman (Aircraft Handler) Andy Ransom, Rosemary Wells, Mr Philip West, Mr Rowland Lieutenant-Commander and Mrs Patrick Knox, Leading Aircrewman Rose, Corporal White, Mr Christopher Wigdor, Mr Graham Rance, Captain Michael Rawlinson, Captain Paul Jeremy Redman, Commander Philip Richardson, Lieutenant-Commander Lester May, Shawcross, Captain Robin Shercliff, Captain Wing Commander and Mrs Clive Rustin, Whilsthouse, WOl Steve Cass, WOl Mick Wiley, Mr Michael Wilkinson, Mr Chris Danny Stembridge, Captain and Mrs Simon Commander Dennis Ryan, Commander Knut Lieutenant-Commander Rob Milligan, Davidson, WO]. Andreas Harvey, W01 Geoff Williams, Mr and Mrs Peter Wingate, Ms Thomas, Captain Robert Turner, Captain Nick Sandved, Commander and Mrs Don Stolworthy, Lieutenant-Commander Martyn Pinnock, Kendall, Leading Air Engineering Technician Camilla Winlo, Mr Alistair Wood, Mr Nick Wood Lieutenant-Commander Chris Roberts, Whitmore, Leading Airman ‘Wiggy’ Whitwham, with ambassadors of the Fly Navy Heritage I Walker, Captain and Mrs Russell Williams, Wing Commander and Mrs Ian Strachan, Lieutenant-Commander Alice Saunders, C, Colonel Richard Green, Colonel Tom Hickman, Commander Stephen Thomas, Surgeon- Mrs Jeremy Miles; Mrs Keith Blount, Mrs Cate Trust and representatives of AVRO, Boeing, Group Captain Christopher Huckstep, Group Commander Matt Turner, Commander Malte Lieutenant-Commander Alex Simms, Pye, Mr and Mrs Eric Verdon-Roe, Mr and Mrs Lockheed Martin, Airbus, BAE Systems, Rolls Lieutenant-Commander Joe Stevens, Ian Whittle, Mr Eddie Albrecht, Mr Richard Captain Tom Lyons, Commander Matt Avison, Von Spreckelsen, Commander Robin Wain, Lieutenant-Commander Phil Thornton, Royce, Westland, Empire Test Pilots’ School, Commander James Blackmore, Commander Gus Commander Louis Wilson-Chalon, Lieutenant- Ailum, Mr Laurence Allum, Mr and Mrs Arwyn Boscombe Down, Society of Experimental Test Carnie, Commander Simon Collins, Commander Colonel Peter Manson, Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant-Commander Marty Van Duin, Angel, Ms Rosalind Arlott, Professor Chris Pilots, Royal Aeronautical Society, Company of Johanna Deakin, Commander and Mrs James Holger Schmor, Lieutenant-Commander Glenn Lieutenant-Commander Barney Wainwright, Atkin, Mr Neil Bailey, Mr Trevor Bailey, Mr Air Pilots, HMS Queen Elizabeth, RAE Squadron Leader and Mrs Duncan Ross, David Barker, Mr Darren Barrington-Light, Mr Dible, Commander Steve Doubleday, Allison, Lieutenant-Commander Nicholas Squadron Leader Robert Tuxford, Squadron Farnborough with many more friends and I Commander and Mrs Gary Duffield, Commander Almond, Lieutenant-Commander James Ashlin, Gary Bartlett, Dr Ian Bartram Harrison, Mr Jan former colleagues from around the world ‘3 Leader Chris Ford, Squadron Leader Dick Bassett, Mr and Mrs David Batcock, Mr and Mrs Andy Dustan, Commander Simon Flynn, Lieutenant-Commander Jonnie Barnes Kharegat, Squadron Leader and Mrs Rhys including Germany, Norway, the Netherlands Yallowley, Lieutenant-Commander Richard Charles Battersby, Mr Douglas Baynes, Mr and the USA and other organisations having Williams, Lieutenant and Mrs Gordon Bradley, Duncan Baynes, Mr Jack Beaver, Ms Elizabeth connection with Captain Eric Melrose-Brown, +