In Memoriam

John will be remembered by many as a much-loved husband, brother, father and grandfather, and by his aviation colleagues as a highly respected Captain who enjoyed a distinguished career with AirUK.

Before joining the airline, John served as an RAF fighter pilot, bringing with him the discipline, experience and professionalism that would become such valued qualities throughout his subsequent flying career. During his time with AirUK, he was greatly respected by colleagues and fellow crew members for his experience, competence and calm approach, and was held in high regard by those who had the privilege of flying with him.

Away from aviation, John was an active and well-known member of his local community in Southrepps, Norfolk, where he became involved in many village events and activities. His willingness to contribute and his friendly nature ensured that he was valued not only by his former aviation colleagues but also by those within the community in which he lived.

John leaves behind a lasting legacy of professionalism, friendship and service. He will be fondly remembered by his family, friends, former colleagues and all those whose lives he touched.

Paul Burton passed away following a long battle with cancer. He was a truly distinctive character who combined exceptional professional ability with a wonderfully irreverent sense of humour. He had little time for pomposity or self-importance and was never afraid to express his views, often with considerable wit and an ability to see the funny side of almost any situation.

Paul’s aviation career began with Rig Air/Air Anglia, where he became a highly respected and accomplished pilot. As Air Anglia developed into Air UK, KLM UK and ultimately Buzz, Paul remained an important part of the organisation and became a much-valued mentor to successive generations of pilots. Over the course of his career, he flew an impressive variety of aircraft, including the Cessna, Aztec, Navajo, DC-3, Fokker F27, Fokker F28, BAC 1-11 and BAe 146.

While Paul will rightly be remembered as a supremely talented pilot, his contribution went far beyond his flying skills. He had a natural ability to pass on his knowledge and experience, and many young pilots benefited from his guidance and encouragement. His students and colleagues remember him not only for his considerable expertise but also for his kindness, generosity and willingness to help others develop their careers.

Paul was also a strong and influential voice on behalf of his fellow pilots. As a leading member of the Air Anglia Pilots’ Committee during the 1970s, before the formation of the BALPA structure, he played an important role in representing his colleagues. His negotiating style was characteristically forthright and uncompromising, but his knowledge, determination and commitment to his fellow pilots earned him considerable respect.

Away from aviation, Paul was a devoted family man and was immensely proud of his wife, Eileen, his family and his grandchildren. Those closest to him were a constant source of pride and happiness throughout his life, and their love and support during his illness were a testament to the close family they shared.

Paul leaves behind a remarkable legacy within the Air Anglia and Air UK family. He will be remembered not only for the many aircraft he flew and the pilots he helped to develop, but for his individuality, humour, generosity and the lasting impression he made on the countless people fortunate enough to have known him.

Paul was, quite simply, one of a kind, and he will be greatly missed.

Brian Collins passed away in December 2007.

Brian is fondly remembered by his former colleagues and friends, who will each have their own memories of the time they shared with him and the contribution he made during his career.

Brian will be remembered with affection and respect by those who had the pleasure of knowing him, and his place among our former colleagues will not be forgotten.

We remember Brian with fondness and extend our thoughts to his family, friends and all those who knew him.

Rod Frye, of Norwich, England, passed away suddenly in February 2015, aged 67.

Born in Eugene, Rod was the youngest of four children of Herbert and Shirley Frye. He graduated from Sheldon High School in 1965.

Rod served his country as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. His lifelong passion for flying continued throughout his professional career, during which he works for British Airways, British International Helicopters, and later as an F100 Captain with AirUK/KLM UK Airlines.

Rod was a long-standing, highly valued and courteous member of the BALPA CC. His contribution and commitment, particularly during the KLC merger, were greatly appreciated by his colleagues and fellow members.

Rod is survived by his wife, Norma; his daughters, Rachel and Alexandra; five grandchildren; his brother, Jim Frye; his sister, Sharon Frye Boles; a niece and three nephews; together with numerous cousins, extended family and friends.

He will be remembered with great affection and respect by all who knew him.

Dave passed away peacefully in August 2026, aged 84, at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and friend, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Dave will be remembered with affection for the friendships he made and the memories he shared with those around him. His passing will be felt by his family, friends and all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Dave’s family and friends at this sad time. He will be remembered with warmth, affection and respect.

John Jacks was a highly respected and much-valued Operations Manager at AirUK. Throughout his time with the airline, John was known for his friendly, approachable and helpful nature, and it is likely that many of us, at some point in our careers, had the pleasure of working with him or seeking his advice.

John was a superb Operations Manager, combining extensive experience and knowledge with a calm and practical approach to the many challenges of airline operations. He was someone colleagues could rely upon, always willing to help, offer guidance or find a solution. His professionalism, good humour and genuine interest in people made him a particularly well-liked and respected member of the AirUK community.

Alongside his aviation career, John had a lifelong passion for horses and was highly respected within the equestrian world. He held a number of senior positions with British Showjumping, including serving as its Chairman from 2003 to 2004, and was later awarded honorary life membership in recognition of his many years of service to the sport. He was also a respected judge, course designer and trainer, and took great pleasure in supporting and encouraging younger riders.

John’s commitment to horses extended to his family, and he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren compete in eventing and showjumping, including at international level.

For those who knew John through AirUK, however, he will perhaps be remembered most fondly as the friendly and dependable Operations Manager who was always prepared to listen, help and share his considerable experience.

John was a true gentleman whose professionalism, kindness and willingness to help others left a lasting impression on those who had the privilege of working with him. He will be greatly missed by his former colleagues, friends and all those whose lives he touched.

Martyn joined AirUK in 1988 as a newly qualified First Officer, having completed his commercial pilot training at Oxford Air Training School. His passion for aviation had begun earlier at White Waltham, where he obtained his Private Pilot’s Licence and subsequently became a Flying Instructor. From there, he followed the traditional ‘self-improver’ route into commercial aviation, building his experience and qualifications along the way.

Initially based at Norwich, Martyn flew the Fokker F27 as a First Officer on the Scottish and North Sea routes. In 1989, he converted to the Boeing 737-400 and joined AirUK Leisure at Manchester. He subsequently spent the winter of 1990/91 flying for Malaysia Airlines under the AirUK wet-lease operation.

On returning to the UK, Martyn completed his ATPL training at Bournemouth and achieved his first command on the F27 in early 1993. The following year he converted to the Fokker 50 at Norwich before progressing to the BAe 146 in 1995, which he flew as a Captain until 2002.

Martyn later returned to the Boeing 737, flying the Buzz network, particularly the routes to France, and subsequently continued his airline career following the transition of the Buzz operation. He went on to fly the Boeing 737-800 for Flyglobespan from Glasgow on Canadian routes and became a Base Captain at Stansted. Following the airline’s closure, he joined TUI in Brussels before moving to Turkish Airlines, based in Istanbul, where he enjoyed flying an extensive international network, with destinations ranging from Tibet to Nairobi.

After many years of airline flying, Martyn eventually decided that the time had come to return home and bring his commercial flying career to an end. He subsequently ran a franchise business until illness in 2016 eventually led to his retirement.

His passion for aviation, however, never left him. In retirement, Martyn learned to fly gyrocopters – something he discovered was rather more challenging than it might first appear – and owned a Calidus autogyro, providing him with the opportunity to continue flying purely for pleasure.

Martyn had many interests outside aviation. He was a keen steam railway enthusiast, becoming an accomplished modeller of live-steam locomotives and volunteering at Bressingham Steam Museum. He also enjoyed small-bore rifle shooting and playing the guitar.

Martyn died peacefully on 3 August 2022, aged 65. He leaves behind his wife, Vivien, to whom he had been married for 44 years.

Martyn will be remembered for his lifelong love of flying, his considerable aviation experience and the enthusiasm with which he pursued his many interests. He will be greatly missed by Vivien, his family, friends and former colleagues.

Bill was a former RAF Hercules Captain, having served at RAF Lyneham before joining AirUK as a direct-entry Fokker F27 Captain based at Norwich.

He quickly became a highly regarded and popular member of the AirUK team. His experience and professionalism were greatly valued by his fellow pilots, while his friendly, approachable nature made him equally popular with cabin crew and colleagues throughout the airline. Bill was one of those people who was remembered not only for his considerable aviation experience, but also for the warmth and good humour he brought to his working relationships.

Following his retirement from flying, Bill and his wife, Liz, made their home near Devizes in Wiltshire.

Bill will be fondly remembered by his former AirUK colleagues and by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His contribution to the airline and the friendships he made during his flying career will ensure that he is remembered with great affection and respect.

Clive enjoyed a remarkable and inspiring career in aviation. He began his professional life with the Met Office before learning to fly at Denham and obtaining his professional pilot’s licence.

He was part of the early days of British Island Airways (BIA), flying into the newly established North Sea oil fields and gaining considerable experience on the Fokker F27. He later progressed to the BAe 146, where he served with distinction as a Captain.

Clive was admired not only for his considerable flying skills and knowledge, but also for his calm, generous and friendly nature. Those fortunate enough to have flown with him remember him with great affection and respect.

Following his retirement from commercial aviation, Clive continued to enjoy his passion for flying through model aircraft. He affectionately referred to them as “the real ones”, recognising that flying them could sometimes be every bit as nerve-wracking as a base check. His love of aviation never left him.

Clive also made a significant contribution to our wider aviation community through his important role in organising the AirUK Reunions, working closely with Adele Stephenson. His enthusiasm and dedication helped maintain the camaraderie, friendships and shared history that have kept so many of us connected over the years.

Clive’s passing leaves a great void for all who knew him. He will be remembered for his friendship, professionalism, generosity and enduring passion for flight, and his legacy will live on in the many people whose lives he touched.

Tony passed away peacefully on Friday 30 January 2026, aged 81.

He was a beloved husband to Angela, a much-loved father to Justin and Darren, and a loving grandfather to Romy and great-grandfather to Louis, Delilah and Arthur. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.

Tony completed his distinguished flying career with Buzz, where he served as a Jet Captain based at Stansted.

He will be remembered with great affection and respect.

Julian passed away peacefully, aged 81, surrounded by his loving family.

He was a highly respected Captain on the AirUK BAe 146 fleet and was held in high regard by his colleagues and fellow crew members. His professionalism, experience and commitment to the highest standards of flying made him a valued member of the AirUK community, and he will be fondly remembered by those who had the privilege of flying with him.

Away from aviation, he was a much-loved husband to Vivienne, father to Johnathan, Richard and Jennifer, and grandfather to Anastasia, Eleanor and Harriet. He was also affectionately known as ‘Patchy’ to his grandchildren Persephone and Esmeralda.

He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and former colleagues, and remembered with great affection and respect.

John had a lifelong passion for aviation which began during his time with the Air Cadets, where he was awarded a flying scholarship and gained his pilot’s licence. He subsequently became a flying instructor and then an air traffic controller before returning to flying as a company pilot.

He joined British Island Airways (BIA), which subsequently became Air UK, and enjoyed a long and varied airline career. During his time with the airline he was based at Blackpool, Aberdeen and Leeds Bradford, later transferring to Air UK Leisure at Manchester. In 1989, John was seconded to Malaysian Airlines and based in Kuala Lumpur, an experience he particularly enjoyed. He eventually returned to Leeds Bradford, allowing him to be closer to his home in Yorkshire.

John was an adventurous and enthusiastic man who enjoyed making the most of life. He and his wife travelled extensively, including spending considerable time at their home in South Africa and exploring many parts of the world. Photography was one of his particular passions, and he also enjoyed picture framing, a skill at which he became highly accomplished and which enabled him to meet and help many local artists.

His interests extended well beyond aviation. John enjoyed fishing, shooting and spending time outdoors, and had a particular affection for animals, especially dogs.

Following his early retirement in 1998, John and his wife spent time living in South Africa before eventually returning to the UK. His love of adventure soon led to another chapter in his life when he took up boating. After completing his RYA training, John became the skipper of their Dutch motor yacht, *Harriet*. Together they crossed the Channel, travelled through France and spent several memorable years exploring the Mediterranean, making many lasting friendships along the way.

John and his wife continued to enjoy travelling, including journeys around the UK in their touring caravan and spending winters in Spain. In later years, they found a special place on the Isle of Bute, where John particularly enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, the views across Rothesay Bay and the opportunity to watch the local wildlife from their holiday lodge.

John will be remembered as a highly experienced aviator, a keen traveller and an adventurous spirit who enjoyed discovering new places and meeting new people. Above all, he will be remembered for the many happy memories he created with his family and friends throughout a life filled with flying, travel, friendship and adventure.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but the memories of a remarkable and adventurous life will remain.