Tail Take Off
You are right, Malcom Soper was a true gent. His reading of the S61N checklist item "tail wheel lock" with the emphasis on the "h" in wheel will always be remembered fondly.
Speechless Two
I believe it was Russ Smith who lost the top of his cockpit in the late 70s. He used to tell the tails of that exploit when we used to fly from Unst in the early 80s. Another gent to fly with.
Memories!