Dave was also my mentor. That's my cover blown and yours as well X767. (PM to follow). I always told Dave that having him as Mentor blew my chances of making Air Chief Marshal. Since he ,you and Adrian did'nt make ACM either I rest my case.
I did not see Dave for ages after Cranwell. He went to Valiants, but they were scrapped shortly afterwards with main spar fatigue. I don't think it was his fault. He then buggered a knee playing football, had a spell in Headley Court, and then went to missiles (THOR / Bloodhound?).
We met up again in the very early 70's when he joined the Kipper fleet, and for most of the 70's we were on the same Station, if not the same Sqn. Didn't fly together more than a dozen times, though, as most of the time we each had our own crew.
Digga is spot on with 6 pints label. I was on the first Nimrod retreads course in 74, after a brief ( not brief enough) spell out of maritime. Dave was teaching Perf, etc. on the OCU. We decided that we had long since taught each other what little we knew, so most "lectures" took place in the Scruffs Bar (aka the Station Chapel ). The memorable/ forgetable exception was conducted in a somewhat disorderly manner in a pub in Truro.
Jan started to develope MS in the late 70's, and Dave the 6 pinter became Dave the devoted 24 hour carer. As she got to the point where she could only eat if you fed her,and talk, he would only go out for a pint or two if someone he utterly trusted was with her. I didn't qualify but my wife did,so we managed the odd beer. Eating out together was a hoot. If Jan wasn't being fed fast enough, it was " stop feeding yourself and feed the cripple" Of all the things Jan lost, she always kept her sense of humour.
To add to their woes, their son Andrew was killed in a road accident about 25 years ago.
Dave's Northern hospitality was overwhelming. We phoned on one occasion to say we would pop in for tea. Dave's idea of tea was a three course meal with the best silver. We hadn't wanted to put him to the trouble, but he had become an ace cook, and enjoyed doing it. If we emphasised we would pop in for a CUP OF TEA it always came with a large slice of his homemade Porter cake. I kept meaning to get his recipe and never did.
We were in Cornwall a few weeks before he died and went round for a cuppa. He and Jan were in great form and we agreed we'd all go to a 206 reunion in Wooton Basset in April. Dave won't make it, but I can see it being a fine wake as well as a reunion. (206 Assoc has the details, why not join us. You don't HAVE to down 6 pints.)
We couldn't get to the funeral as I was in dock myself for a week, but our son went down from Bath. He had been at school with their daughter Claire at ISK in the early 70's, and whenever he and his family were in Cornwall they would go and see Jan and Dave.
So long Dave. Hope the beer's good wherever you are.
Cheers
O Xenos