Kingsley Layton RIP

[Halcyon Days]

Deeply regret to advise that Kingsley passed away on Wednesday 19th.
Funeral details TBA.
Kings-was a legend in ops/crewing and as a ramp man and loadmaster.
He worked for Autair-Court line/Dan Air/Tempair/Britannia/Air Foyle and various handling agents -primarily at Luton.
Rest in peace old friend.

[kazzie]

:(

I remember Kingsley taking me for a drive around the ramp at LTN during my training when I first started in the airport at servisair..RIP dude :( x

[Big Tudor]

Another huge character heads for the flying club bar in the sky. And a large chunk of aviation knowledge and history goes with him.
RIP Kingsley. There'll be a raised glass tonight.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

I'm very sorry indeed to hear of Kingsley's passing. I remember when he joined Autair in the Traffic Section. I always think of him as being eternally youthful and full of laughs. Such a shame.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Very few OpsnCrewing type folk are labelled legends, this was one such person.
:\

[dc9-32]

I first came across Kings in 1989 when I joined Britannia Crew Control and although my stay with Brits was short, I continued to be associated with him for the next 10 years or so.

It's a well known fact he liked his drink but this guy knew all the tricks and trades when working in ops & crewing. The title "legend" is probably an understatement.

Sleep peacefully my friend. Nobody can hurt you now....

[thegypsy]

I was going to add that the name rang a bell when in Britannia. Great bloke and excellent at his job. RIP

[VP8]

Knew Kingsley @ Air Foyle taught me a few tricks!!

RIP matey :(

[HP115]

Condolences to Bob and Joan,his parents and Dianah his sister. I knew Kings for a great many years. He will be sadly missed.

[tsanders]

Very sorry to hear of that news.
Kingsley was one of the aviation industry unique characters and a real one-off.
Deepest condolences to his family.
Rest in Peace

[It Gets Worse]

Kingsley was quite a character with a story for every occasion. I work with Kingsley at Air Foyle where he was already a Flight Manager when I joined in 1993.

We worked together and met around the world in various locations.

Upon return from any trip he would immediately announce "It was a nightmare!"

It is lovely to read what very nice things everyone has to say about Kings.

I have advised Slava at ADB and I've asked him to let everyone there know the sad news.

God Bless you Kingley,

Eamonn

[chris59jim]

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kings. So pleased we had that chat the other month in Asda and laughed over old times. I first met Kingsley when I was working for Britannia Airways as a telephonist/telex operator and my flatmate was engaged to Frank Munich. You could go to any corner of this eartth and somewhere, somewhere would have heard of him. RIP Kingsley - a legend indeed x

[dc9-32]

Frank was a legend also.

[kenparry]

You could go to any corner of this eartth and somewhere, somewhere would have heard of him.

Not only that, wherever you were, Kingsley would get hold of you. I recall many years ago sitting in the back of a US Air B737 (still on the ramp) to fly from Orlando to Miami when one of the crew produced a message for me - "Call Kingsley in Crewing".

Great guy, very sad to to hear that he has gone.

[JB007]

If someone could be so kind as to post the funeral details when they are available, thanks...copy of this thread also in 'Where Are They Now'...

Cheers
JB

[dc9-32]

I remember once leaving Port Harcourt without paying the handling bill. I told the handler the next crew in would also pay our bill but unfortunately Kings didn't have enough cash to cover both aircraft so they arrested him until it was resolved. He was allowed one phone call which apparently was via a SAT fone from the top of the tower and as I remember, he didn't mince his words to ops that day !!

I sincerely hope Kings found it in his heart to forgive me. It was, afterall, many years ago !!

[Halcyon Days]

Funeral not likely to be before 10th/11th January-but it will be at Stopsley
(Luton) crematorium.
Will post details once confirmed.

[Halcyon Days]

The funeral details have now been finalised-and will be held on 12 th January at 1200 at Stopsley Crematorium (Luton) and afterwards at The Fox - Darley Hall The Fox | Darley Hall | Luton (http://www.Thefoxdarleyhall.co.uk)

[jumpseater]

RIP Kings.



By pure coincidence I may be back in that neck of the woods on the 12th, is the funeral and the fox open to ex colleagues?

[Halcyon Days]

Of course-any friend of Kings-is a friend of those that will be there.

[TraceyHL]

I have only just heard about Kings, I only rang him a few weeks back & he was fine,so very sad, he was a good friend to me. I noticed that the funeral is Jan 12th, but this is a Saturday, can someone confirm please?

[TraceyHL]

Hello I have noticed that the 12th Jan is a Sat, is this correct please?

[rosario]

I worked with him in Ops for 10 years, a great person to have a good laugh and I will always he would get the boards down once an aircraft had called Ops so that we could get cleared away and get across the road for that drink!!!
A great person to work with and lots of good memories in Ops and a Legend.

[Paul Charnley]

Such sad news! RIP to one of the best aviation characters I ever met.

[OUgulfopsman]

I have known Kings since 23 March 1968. As someone has already said, he just kept popping up in strange places ! He turned up in FJR around 1995 in a clapped out IL76. Due to all sorts of typical Russian reasons he ended up in DXB where I was working, and had to spend a week there. It was one of the most hilarious weeks I have ever had in my life.Catching up on all the old times in LTN and Saudi etc.
We spoke a couple of times a year since then. True gumpy old men conversations.
Loved the guy. Very very sad.
R

[Halcyon Days]

Yes its definitely on the Saturday-unusual I know but confirmed at 1200 on 12th Jan.