View Full Version : Gp Capt TH (Dick) Whittingham
Alex Whittingham
30th Apr 2018, 09:01
I regret to announce the death of my father, Dick Whittingham, who passed away on Friday.
Dad joined the RAF in the mid-1950s, training on Harvards and T-33s at Portage La Prairie in Manitoba. His first posting was to 71 (Eagle) Sqn, part then of 2ATAF and based in Bruggen flying Hunters. He then pursued a career at CFS and was one of the few to gain an A1 instructor qualification. He flew with the CFS Aerobatic team (this was before the Red Arrows were formed) on JP4s displaying at Farnborough and the Paris Air Show. After tours in the Far East and Staff College he was Wing Commander Flying at Finningley in the late 1970s and then OC BFTS at Cranwell in the early 1980s, which was when the picture was taken.
After a last tour as Military Attaché in Quito Dad left the RAF at his 55 point to work for Plessey in Madrid and Pera in Barcelona before settling in Somerset. In his early retirement he was Chairman of Bristol Groundschool and a regular poster on these forums.
https://www.pprune.org/members/6623-alex-whittingham-albums-alex-s-album-picture1196-portrait-low-res.png
https://www.pprune.org/members/6623-alex-whittingham-albums-alex-s-album-picture1195-jp4-low-res.png
Dad is survived by his wife Helen, two sons and a daughter, and eleven grandchildren.
NutLoose
30th Apr 2018, 09:34
Although I never knew your father, please accept my heartfelt condolences to both you and the family, be strong, having lost my mother a few years back, the sadness and pain does ease with time, but you will not forget him.
Alex,
condolences to you and your family.
Dick taught at your groundschool, he was much fun & very well informed - helping us towards all those exams & an aviation career.
All the best to you and yours.
lsh
Vampiredave
30th Apr 2018, 11:57
Alex,
I am so sorry to read of the loss of your father.
He kindly supported my research when I was putting together my books on the DH Vampire and RAF aerobatic teams. His generous, enthusiastic and articulate responses to my numerous questions regarding No.71 (Vampire) Squadron and the 1961 CFS Jet Provost display team, 'The Red Pelicans', provided a great deal of integrity to the respective chapters.
I am grateful to him for his unfailing support and offer you and your family my sincere condolences
'Blue Skies'
David Watkins
Megaton
30th Apr 2018, 12:18
Alex,
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Dick instructed me during my ATPLs and we thoroughly enjoyed his insight and humour. I’ll never forget his exam preparation tip for the night before: have a glass of wine and a good sh1t!
RIP
Pom Pax
30th Apr 2018, 13:24
I regret to announce the death of my father, Dick Whittingham, who passed away on Friday.
And I very much regret reading of it. To you, your Mother and all your family my heartfelt deepest sympathy. To me your Father was the tall young blonde fighter pilot. I only ever flew with him once but he treated me to a roll....the only one I have ever experienced. A gifted raconteur whose stories kept us amused on the last Sunday night train from Victoria to Emsworth.
skippedonce
30th Apr 2018, 14:05
Alex, condolences to you and your family. I had the great pleasure of speaking with him in Brussels only two weeks ago as part of the RAFA celebration of RAF100, so his passing must have come as a deep shock. He'll be fondly remembered and sorely missed by many.
Hot 'n' High
30th Apr 2018, 14:22
Alex, really sorry to hear the sad news. I never met your Dad as I think my time as a Stude at BGS was probably after he was sensibly "taking things easy" in Somerset - well, at least he was probably not as involved with BGS by that stage! Post #7 above illustrates that "taking things easy" was probably a relative thing tho! All the best to you all at this sad time. Rgds, H 'n' H
Ivor Fynn
30th Apr 2018, 17:29
Alex,
I am am truly sorry for your loss, I remember him fondly from my ATPL studies at Bristol, he brought knowledge and humour to what could be very dry subjects. Please accept my condolences to you and your family. I know he will be sadly missed by many.
Ivor
LOMCEVAK
30th Apr 2018, 20:01
Alex,
Sincere condolences to you and your family. I remember Dick well from my courses with you both at BGS in late '98/early'99. His knowledge, easy to follow delivery, humour and warmth were outstanding and he was certainly someone I will never forget and feel privileged to have met.
Best wishes
DS
MrBernoulli
1st May 2018, 05:46
Alex, condolences on the loss of your father, very sad to hear of his passing.
Your father was instrumental in clearing away the 'fog' that obscured much of the ATPL met syllabus when I attended BGS in the early 2000s, during my last years in the RAF at Brize Norton. He would use his wry sense of humour to lift the mood, when many of the classroom occupants were bucklng under the mental load of clmatology and similar. His approach to dealing with it all certainly made a difference for me.
Take care, fella.
roving
1st May 2018, 07:19
A.W. you can be very proud of your late father.
Initially commissioned during National Service with the R.A.F., subsequently joining the R. Aux. A.F., before being offered a Direct Commission in the mid 1950's. He went on to enjoy a wonderful flying career and promotion to Group Captain in an era when the service was rapidly contracting and many were grounded and consequently left at a relatively young age.
overstress
1st May 2018, 23:14
Alex
My condolences. His war stories enlivened my climatology studies during ground school at Bristol in 1996.
gzornenplatz
2nd May 2018, 08:05
Alex,
My sincere condolences on the death of your father. I remember him as a Squadron Leader at RAF Valley in the late 60s/early 70s. I was on Standards Squadron and he and I often used to bemoan the poor standard of English grammar among our colleagues. A sad loss.
A340Yumyum
2nd May 2018, 08:46
Heart-felt condolences. He made climatology a simple as possible! Great memories of his dry wit at BGS!
Mark Dixon
29th Oct 2020, 09:06
Dear Alex
I am sorry to hear about the passing of your father. I was going through some photos and found one with Dick and your mother in Quito in 1984.
We were there on a climbing expedition and your parents showed us such brilliant hospitality. We were completely broke and I think your Mum even gave me a pair of shoes of yours to travel home in!
It was a brief encounter of a few weeks - Dick trekked to our base camp with Alan Millar a local climber - Great days and great memories - I was luck to meet Dick - clearly an inspirational and great man. RIP
Best wishes
Mark