Thank you for the links Mechta. Brilliant. Well worth watching.:)

It took a while but I finally went through The Bourne in daylight yesterday, so stopped and took a look at Flight Lieutenant Waghorn's grave.

As was commented at the start of the thread, the graveyard is somewhat overgrown, however, given that according to the signs, the last burial was in 1967, this is not too surprising.

Flight Lieutenant Waghorn's grave is in good condition, albeit looking a bit empty without the eagle on the plinth and with a few weeds growing through the gravel. Some sympathetic tidying would help, but making it stand out from all the others may not be appreciated.

Unfortunately I was without camera and phone at the time, so no photos yet.

I found this on Youtube with some stills and film of the 1929 Race:

Thank you very much for taking the time to visit and report on the state of the grave. A fitting gesture to the memory of a great man.:)

It might be worth getting in touch with the Royal Aeronautical Society for some financial assistance with smartening up the grave.

David Waghorn
 

Re Charlie One Six, June 2012 above. I knew Dave at Dartmouth and Culdrose and yes, he was related. Great guy. Lost touch after Culdrose - I finished Gannet training before he got his chopper wings.

Have tried intermittently for years to find him again, would appreciate any help available.

I seem to remember that an Army pilot also named Waghorn died in the Far East. He was flying an early Westland Scout

Last year I met up with the senior member of our Wings course - who later became Captain of Culdrose - and he and Dave were great friends at the time, being older than the rest of us. Sadly he also hadn't heard of Dave for decades so the trail is still cold I'm afraid.

David Waghorn
 

Well, many thanks for trying. Still hoping.

When were you under training at Culdrose? I was there from May '64 until 849 Squadron decamped to Brawdy This included the farewell variety show, Mess Dinner and Flypast for Percy Gick.

Cheers, Mike

Gannet Driver - PM sent!

GD/C16 - either of you end up on 360 in the sixties?

Charlie OneSix
 

New to Forum, can't see how to find your PM, pse help!

Not me - I was rotary.

Wanderoo's question
 

Apologies Wanderoo, didn't quite understand. Please would you drop a hint?

GD - 831 FAA (Gannet ECM6) merged with 97 RAF in the 60's to become 360 RAF/RN and flew the Canberra. They have a reunion next month, 18/10, at RAF Wyton.

GD - he got there first. We certainly had former Gannet Observers - Lofty Nash was my flt cdr for a while, but sure if any Gannet pilots - most were ex Sea Vixen and Scimitar

360 understood!
 

OK, GOTTIT! Sorry, didn't immediately see 360 as Squadron.

No, I wasn't there but, as you say, several Gannet Obs were - notably Lofty Nash and "Oboe" Jones.

Getting slightly away from the Waghorn focus, but Lofty was an absolute gift to cartoonists in Squadron Line Books. I know the 849HQ one is in the Fleet Air Arm museum and I think Sea Your History has it on line.

Mike

Back on topic
 

Visited The Bourne yesterday, was unable to find the grave on first search. However the very helpful ladies in the office at the modern St Thomas' church have a full list with a hand-drawn map compiled by the West Surrey family history society in 1988. Thus armed with copies I returned, located the grave and gave it a bit of a tidy-up. I intend to keep an eye on it from time to time and will see if I can improve it despite not being a gardener!

Lofty was my flight commander for a while and I flew with him too. Great operator