Philip
And what a good and improving magazine 'General Aviation' is. Anything which develops the relevance and GA community awareness of AOPA is a good thing in my view.
BTW if this is public slagging off let the slagging commence!.
Let me add my own 'Character'. My instructor when I learnt at Andrewsfield many years ago. Des Delaney. Been there, had done it, had the T shirt, and no doubt the engraved timepiece. Loads of flying stories, able to demonstrate with ease, and able to pull off some spectacular 'stunts' in a safe and 'non showing off' way. I compare him as a character to another instructor I had who demonstrated how to loop a Cessna in the circuit (below 1500 ft). This guy was a show off not a character. Whether show offs ever become characters I don't know but this guy was more likely to become worm food.
I guess I must include the flying vet without condoning all of his actions.
From East Anglia I would certainly add Henry Labouchere - Mr Tiger Moth as far as I am concerned, Ken Wallis the autogyro pioneer, and Jimmy Hoseason of boating holiday fame who is extremely entertaining and was one of the team who had the foresight to buy Seething airfield in the 60s and turn it into a membership owned facility.