Toon Ghose

[treadigraph]

Sorry to see on the Flyer forum that Toon Ghose has died. I never met him but I'm sure that many on here will have done so and perhaps been taught to fly by him at Shoreham. He sounds to have been fascinating character.

I first became aware of him when a pair of C152s appeared on the British Register, G-TOON and G-HOSE; seem to recall one of those disappeared into the Channel with a couple of airline pilots aboard shortly after its arrival...

[Chris Martyr]

Thanks for that post treadigraph ; and very sorry to hear that .
Toon did my RT practical many years ago . I had to visit him at his digs in Tottington Manor , just North of SHM to do this . After ringing for a long time at the door , this character appeared in one of the upper windows in a woolly hat pulled down over his sunglasses . I almost expected a Peter Sellers type greeting of , ' Halleur' [ with a distinctively French pronunciation] . But what a delightful and fascinating man he was . Apparently , he rode here from India on a scooter , goodness knows how many years ago . His career makes excellent reading .

He was also legendary for the curries he created with another sadly missed character from Shoreham , MIck Burdett .

Aviation is all the poorer for the passing of these wonderful people .

[treadigraph]

Indeed. At least he's left his memoirs for us to savour - my copy is hopefully in the post...

[mikehallam]

Gentlemen & Ladies,Toon Ghose died on 20th February 2019 his funeral is on 22nd March 2 p.m. at Woodvale Crematorium Lewes road, Brighton, BN2 3QB followed by a reception at Shoreham airport from 3.30-6 p.m.. Ray Maynard posted this info.elsewhere asking:-“Please pass this message on and attend if you can .The family would like everyone whose lives were touched by Toon to come and say goodbye to a really incredibly man.
Toon taught me to fly and we remained friends for over forty years,
Ray.”He instructed many of us in this part of England, - me too in Jan/Feb.1970 at the Southern Aero Club, Shoreham.mike hallam.

[claudia]

Very sad to hear of the passing of Toon Ghose. I was invited to his home in August 1992 to do my RT licence.
Will never forget that experience,,so much fun and the curry.....well brilliant.
A genuine true character.

[memories of px]

This is his book in pdf format.


https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bga-sg-archive/Books/TIGER%20IN%20THE%20SKY.pdf (https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bga-sg-archive/Books/TIGER%20IN%20THE%20SKY.pdf)

[Fitter2]

Nice article in the local paper.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/17476200.tributes-paid-to-former-shoreham-airport-flying-instructor/

[ETOPS]

Fantastic article and tribute in the Argus - what a man!!

But 100,000 hours? Even over 60 years that 1660 per year every year - I would have needed a cig after that amount students...........:rolleyes:

[Peter Arthur Woodman]

I first flew with Toon in 1965. He checked me out on the Bolkow Junior at Shoreham after I learnt to fly at Biggin Hill; in 1963. Had many happy times with Toon, flying the Beagle Pup 150 and in my Auster J1/N Alpha. Did some aerobatics with him and he did my radio licence while preparing a curry. I will be at his funeral in 2 hours time.

[pterosaur]

Toon's funeral yesterday showed how much he was liked, respected and loved by everyone whose lives he touched. The chapel was full to overflowing, as was the gathering afterwards at Shoreham Airport. After my lifetime in aviation, he is still probably the man who inspired me the most. He sent me on my first powered solo, gave me my first commercial employment (pleasure flights in CD Lord Shiva), and was a life-long friend. Thank you, Toon.