I seldom post on PPRuNe. Last night, reading the condolences, I was close to tears. Regrettably, I did not have the opportunity to meet Pete Barnes. Forgive me, the following verse has been posted before on PPRuNe, it touched me then, as it does now
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air,
Up, up the long delirious burning blue.
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew;
And while with silent uplifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
A week on, at 0800 on Wednesday, I shall hold my own 2 minute silence for both Peter and the gentleman who died at the scene. Our thoughts go out to all affected by this tragic accident.
XTEC