I'm not sure if IFR meant "Bend'em" O'Brien alientated people at the Biggin club, or the Tiger Club. If the latter, I don't think that's quite fair.
He's always been a larger-than-life, flamboyant character, and although his "When I was ......" stories are best taken with a healthy pinch of salt, they were no less amusing for that, even the 27th time of telling! Like good wine, his stories improved with age.
I remember him as a good-natured guy, always ready for a laugh, and although he had a slight tendency to boast, and probably to fantasise a little, it was fun when he was at the Club - whether you laughed with him, or at him!
He's been involved in some good display routines over the years. One was a pair of motorised gliders doing a synchronised close formation "aerial ballet" routine to suitable background music (can't remember what it was.) Sounds dull, but it wasn't, and included the two aircraft only a few feet feet apart, one inverted over the other.
His "Trucktop Landing" display in which he landed a Piper Cub on top of a 40' artic as it drove along the runway was always enjoyable. Brendan's a natural showman and the crowd loved it as he built up the "Will he/Won't he" atmosphere - way off at the first attempt, only just missing the second time and then, to the roar of the crowd, always success the third time!
It's true that it was sometimes difficult to start the next display because Bend'em was still taking his bows from the top of the trailer as it drove back along the runway, but the crowd loved it - so did Brendan, of course!
I haven't seen him for years, but I don't suppose he's changed, or ever will. I can easily understand his imagine his style irritating professional aviators - but I bet Joe Public enjoys it!
