Farewell to Mike
 

The plane that went down on Thursday was being flown by Mike Channer. Mike spent the better part of 3 months in Maun; from December of last year until February of this year. I was also in Maun. I arrived after him and stayed a bit longer. But Mike and I knew each other before coming to Maun. Mike and I had gone to school together in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. We busted our butts to make it through flight school for 3 years and in 3rd year we joked about hooking up in Africa to look for work.
Mike was an amazing guy. For all of you who knew him, consider yourselves fortunate. Mike, as I’ve often heard, had no enemies. Mike made good friends easily and anywhere he went. He was loved in Maun and he would have fit in well. I looked up to him and became very close to him.
Tonight I can’t help but think of Sooze, Raj, Mike, Tom, Trav and everyone who got drunk with us at Sitatunga.

Chris

Condolences mate.

Please pass it on to his family and friends as well.

May he RIP :sad:

k2climber
 

I'm sorry that you lost your mate. My sincerest condolences. On the 23rd July 1994 a similar fate befell Jeremy Munro Chalmers in the Zambezi Valley near Chirundu. He too was a great bloke and I still miss him big time. I hope they're out there drinking Sky Lager or something...

Hear hear
 

To Jeremy and to all the other friends we've known and lost to this fine job we do.
One day it might just be us.


4g

To My Dear Friend Mike,
Here was someone who took to Africa like a Canadian Goose to water!!
It was a pleasure to work and fly with you.
We will miss you and the ever present
"Yeah Cool!"
:sad:

The Family are having a Memorial Service in Canada this week end. I think there may be a web site so will post details as soon as I get the information.

This is all incredibly sad. To read messages from friends about friends they have lost, reminds me of a beautiful song in Les Miserables, which starts:

"There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone"

It really brings a lump to my throat.

I have a suggestion, if it doesn't already exist somewhere. Perhaps PPRUNE, or an individual Ppruner who has the skills, could establish a site as a memorial to pilots who have died whilst flying. This could serve as a permanent site which friends could revisit to place messages for years afterwards and where family members could get comfort from reading those messages. Perhaps those who have photos of the person who has been lost, could post them, to that the person remains "real" to all those who visit the site to pay respects.

My deepest, sincerest, condolences to all those who have lost a piloting friend, sibling or child in a plane crash. It's one thing to say "they died doing what they love the most" but that does nothing to ease the pain.

RIP

Hey T - what a stunning idea. I think PPrune should take you up on that idea. It would be a great comfort to those left behind to continue reading about them with various messages of affection for years to come. Hey PPrune do it!:ok:

Memorial Service
 

Mike Parents will be having a Memorial service to celibrate Mikes Life.
This will take place at the Bells Corner United Church in Ottawa on Saturday 18th September Eastern Standard Time.
Friends please take this as an open invitaion.
His parents have requested that those of his friends and collegues across the World and Africa light a candle at this time in his memory.

They are also working on establishing a Flying Scholarship at his old Flying College and Gliding School and will develop a website with more information on this. I will keep PPrune updated.

His parents will be coming to Southern Africa shortly to experience for themselves some of the warmth and friendship that Mike found here.

A wonderfull couple.

As Mike would say :cool:

I have always envied all pilots-having that whole open sky to play in,(all that freedom!)

Well,pilots like Michael and others have instilled in me a whole new respect for your wonderful craft.

Michael,I am going to miss you and our trips up to Zambia!Thank you so much for all the help you have given me.You were a wonderful guy.

Heartfelt condolences to your family and friends.

Till we meet again!:(

Today I attended the Memorial Service for my friends Shirley, Matthew & Justine Watters, (the three Australians who died in the crash.)

We were given this program, I thought I would share the message on the back from their families. Mike was mentioned a number of times in the service.

Matt's unbelieveable musical talent, and Justine's megawatt smile will never be forgotten. Shirley so caring to all.

Six people who will be very dearly missed by those who love them.

Sky

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...cethankyou.jpg

FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES


Together with Mikes parents, Gerry & Sharon who have come out from Canada, we have arranged a Funeral service for our Good Friend Mike Channer here in Lusaka.

This will take place on Friday 1st Oct 2004 at the United Church of Zambia, Trinity Church, Church Road, Lusaka at 1500 hours Local Time.

(This is 1300 hrs GMT).

Please accept this as an invitation to join us in this Service as we remember a Good Friend and a Good Life.

Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Thank You

Keith Downing

Hey All

Mike was one of the most chilled out people I know. He was a good aviator and in the short time I knew him a good friend.

His folks have put up a website in his honour, michaelchanner.ca

Keep it safe

Not too sure how to write about these things........

Channer was part of the Maun crew. We came to Africa to fly but got so much more than that.

Mike van der Vliet, Chris, Channer and I were friends, Channer was our friend.

We would play cards to see who got the thickest mattress that night, we would drink while we played, and Channer would no doubt be eating through out.

You died living the dream buddy and it tears my heart in two when I think of it.

You'll never be forgotten. xoxoxoxo

What a wonderful Service we had.
The Music & Choir was magical.
Thanks to all those who attended and the good wishes of those that could not.

Please continue to remember Michael on:


www.michaelchanner.ca

FB