I was very saddened to read of the death of Alan Bristow; but he also lead a long, successful and adventure filled life - I certainly hope he was entirely satisfied with it. I know I would have been.
Like many people on this forum, I am a product of the company he created. Bristow trained me as an apprentice and put me through college. They provided superb training, experience and a pretty much unlimited range of opportunities within the organization.
He was a natural leader and certainly had a very imposing personality and presence. He was able to attract and retain a great selection of talented individuals within the organization and for that reason alone the company was able to expand and grow; despite operating multiple types, in differing roles, all over the world and employing people of every nationality and from every background.
Bristow was very much an organization with a "can-do" attitude. No matter what, where or when you wanted to do something, the people would get down and get it done. There were many people within the company that would make these things happen but it was absolutely driven from the top by a man committed to making it happen -and infusing the entire organization with the same drive and intent.
I can't claim to have ever personally known Alan Bristow, I was just a small piece of that large company. I did get to meet him many times and in many situations as I worked in various operations and locations. I also worked on the 125 and even spent a large number of weekends working on the estates at Cranleigh on all kinds of interesting outdoor projects - which most certainly beat working in the overhaul shop or hangar on beautiful weekends.
I credit Bristow with giving me the start for everything I have ever achieved in my lifetime. I started out sweeping the hangar floor and washing helicopters in Sumburgh. By the time I left 10 years later, I was licensed on everything operated on the North Sea and had worked all over the world - and loved every minute of it. I only moved for greater opportunity and even more adventure.
I made friendships that endure to this day - some of my very best friends I have ever made are people I worked with all these years ago at Bristow. I run into former and current Bristow employees all over the world on a regular basis. I still do a lot of business with Bristow, in fact I will be in Redhill next week.
I am sorry that I was not at the funeral, as I know a large number of the people that gave me my opportunities, trained me and so generously gave me the value of their knowledge and experience would have been in attendance. I have immense respect for all of you who took the time to share your knowledge and experience, and I want you to know that your values are the ones I use on a daily basis to perform my current job! These people were all accomplished in their own right and had the opportunity to know Alan Bristow when it was a small and growing company. They were loyal and driven employees of this great company because they truly and honestly believed in Alan Bristow and the team he created that became such a powerhouse in the helicopter industry.
It was my great privilege and an honour to have met this great man and worked for the company he created.
I hope you may rest in peace. You are truly the loss of one of the legends of this industry - and your name certainly lives on forever.
My thoughts are with all the family.
Last edited by Phil Kemp; 10th May 2009 at 00:53.