I learnt, by his last Christmas card, that he was about to "slip the surly bonds of Earth", but he was his normal cheerful self, saying he had had a good innings.
I first met him when I was on 54 Sqn at West Raynham, when he and Porky Munro were on the Tripartite Kestrel Sqn.
Many years followed, until we came together again when he took over from John Walker as boss of the Jaguar OCU, and I was boss of 1 Sqn Jag Ocu.
After a final tour on 41 Sqn, I joined him again for my first, and only, ground tour at 38 Gp, where he was in charge of the OS corridor.
A real Christian gentleman, whose leadership skills, immaculate bearing and superb flying skills were hard to beat.
Blue skies, Fred - it has been a privilege.