Back in the late 70's the Dowty-Rotol Fan version of the Islander (G-FANS) was based in the same hangar we operated from at Shoreham and he was the test pilot on that. He was regularly in and out of the Miles hangar and was charming to talk to.
He was quite amused when I told him that as a 9 year old I was paddling in the sea near Worthing when he scared the hell out of me when he broke the World Airspeed Record in his Hunter in 1953.