RAF Loss
He was my friend, and I can't believe we will never see him again and hear about his latest adventures.
Quite simply he was the best a human can be and a wonderful example to everyone to live each and every day fully.
There are no words ...
Mrs Biggus
Quite simply he was the best a human can be and a wonderful example to everyone to live each and every day fully.
There are no words ...
Mrs Biggus
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ant Downing
Sqn Ldr A Downing
Ant was the most fundamentally decent and likeable human being you could possibly ever meet, and whose absolute enthusiasm for life was infectious. A truly unforgettable gentleman. I still smile at how hoarse his voice was after leading us through the Nijmegen Marches years ago...
Rest in peace, mate.
Ant was the most fundamentally decent and likeable human being you could possibly ever meet, and whose absolute enthusiasm for life was infectious. A truly unforgettable gentleman. I still smile at how hoarse his voice was after leading us through the Nijmegen Marches years ago...
Rest in peace, mate.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: home: United Kingdom
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the DT.
Two officers killed on covert Afghanistan mission named - Telegraph
I still couldn't find anything on the MOD site.
Duncs
Two officers killed on covert Afghanistan mission named - Telegraph
I still couldn't find anything on the MOD site.
Duncs
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK sometimes
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RIP Ant although only an acquaintance really, top bloke. I don't know anyone who had met you who didn't think the same.
PS. Condolences to his family and girlfriend, and appologies on behalf of some of my face book 'friends' who felt it appropriate to name Ant publicly days ago!
PS. Condolences to his family and girlfriend, and appologies on behalf of some of my face book 'friends' who felt it appropriate to name Ant publicly days ago!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just cannot believe this is true,he was a legend. The RAF has lost its best, if only other senior officers had the courage and conviction to get out in the field rather than sit behind a desk then we might be in a better position.
Dont let his loss be in vain , stand up and fight but I fear nobody else has courage like what he had.
RIP Boss
Dont let his loss be in vain , stand up and fight but I fear nobody else has courage like what he had.
RIP Boss
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ant was one of the most amazing people I've ever met and had an unrivalled enthusiasm for everything in life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this terrible time.
N Joe
N Joe
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Middle East
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RIP Ant. I served with him at Kinloss when he was a new JO. He would just pack a bag and go off in his shift downtime to places like Venezuela. A real adventurer and clearly into much much more than I realized. A sad loss.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cambs
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Endurance Event In Ant's memory
PPruners,
Jo Kilkenny is running the 147 mile Viking Way (in one go) in memory of Ant and is raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
She writes:
"The Viking Way Ultra is a 147mile race that is starting on 7th April and runs from Humber Bridge to Oakham. It is a non stop race and has a cut off of 40 hours.
34 runners, including myself, have been selected to participate in this tough event organised by Mark Cockbain, an accomplished Ultrarunner himself.
I am doing this race in memory of Squadron Leader Anthony Downing who was the RAF serviceman who died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan over christmas. Ant was a a good friend and a talented endurance athlete. I met him when I crewed at the Enduroman Double Ironman in 2009 and was lucky enough to have him in my life. Anyone who knew him would describe him as a gent. He was a kind, generous and modest guy who lived life to the full and whose only weakness was the copious amounts of tea he drank, his only addiction.....he normally couldn't open his eyes in the morning til he had his first cuppa which always made me laugh!"
You can sponsor her at virgin money giving.
Check out the authenticity of the event on the RAF Benevolent Fund website.
Please give generously.
Well done Jo.
WPH
Jo Kilkenny is running the 147 mile Viking Way (in one go) in memory of Ant and is raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
She writes:
"The Viking Way Ultra is a 147mile race that is starting on 7th April and runs from Humber Bridge to Oakham. It is a non stop race and has a cut off of 40 hours.
34 runners, including myself, have been selected to participate in this tough event organised by Mark Cockbain, an accomplished Ultrarunner himself.
I am doing this race in memory of Squadron Leader Anthony Downing who was the RAF serviceman who died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan over christmas. Ant was a a good friend and a talented endurance athlete. I met him when I crewed at the Enduroman Double Ironman in 2009 and was lucky enough to have him in my life. Anyone who knew him would describe him as a gent. He was a kind, generous and modest guy who lived life to the full and whose only weakness was the copious amounts of tea he drank, his only addiction.....he normally couldn't open his eyes in the morning til he had his first cuppa which always made me laugh!"
You can sponsor her at virgin money giving.
Check out the authenticity of the event on the RAF Benevolent Fund website.
Please give generously.
Well done Jo.
WPH
Last edited by WPH; 27th Mar 2012 at 11:42.