PO Simon Tompkins,RAF Valley 1989
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Was on the same course at Linton as Tommo, have several photos and the graduation and prize giving official photos. Later we all met up regularly at Shawbury for weekends, tommo coming down from Valley with other ex course members.
As has been said a very popular individual and good friend. A few people were especially effected by the accident and it brought home the nature and danger of flying to all of us. I am sure it made us better and safer aviators having being aware of the fragility of life so early in our careers.
I believe I may have ...... "liberated" his coffee mug from valley and still have it!
As has been said a very popular individual and good friend. A few people were especially effected by the accident and it brought home the nature and danger of flying to all of us. I am sure it made us better and safer aviators having being aware of the fragility of life so early in our careers.
I believe I may have ...... "liberated" his coffee mug from valley and still have it!
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Tommee_hawk
The simple answer to that is so she could see his grave from her house that was adjacent to the cemetary
When I located the church this summer I could not find his grave site,the church is very old and quite small with old headstones and no sign of recent burials. I was eventually told where to look. The 'new'extension cemetary is not accessible from the old church grounds only from the street and behind high hedges.The rectangular site is being 'used' from the top left hand corner, all headstones facing toward the church, backing on to and facing away from the adjacent house. I only found out a few months ago his mother at the time owned the adjacent house.
Simon's gravesite is in the extreme bottom right hand corner well away from any others and facing her house, presumably in a very visible location . She is now buried next to him.
I was quite taken aback when I found them, a very unusual and 'lonely' siting. Cemetaries are very peaceful and relective places, I struggle with theirs.
Graham
The simple answer to that is so she could see his grave from her house that was adjacent to the cemetary
When I located the church this summer I could not find his grave site,the church is very old and quite small with old headstones and no sign of recent burials. I was eventually told where to look. The 'new'extension cemetary is not accessible from the old church grounds only from the street and behind high hedges.The rectangular site is being 'used' from the top left hand corner, all headstones facing toward the church, backing on to and facing away from the adjacent house. I only found out a few months ago his mother at the time owned the adjacent house.
Simon's gravesite is in the extreme bottom right hand corner well away from any others and facing her house, presumably in a very visible location . She is now buried next to him.
I was quite taken aback when I found them, a very unusual and 'lonely' siting. Cemetaries are very peaceful and relective places, I struggle with theirs.
Graham
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Graham, up until last year I worked with Simon's brother (in a totally non aviation related job), we often spoke about this as my father was also killed while at Valley some years earlier. Plus we both have a mutal friend here in Lincoln (funny the people you come across in life).
If you're not in contact with the family and want to make contact with Simon's brother drop me a PM and I'll see if I can get his details for you.
If you're not in contact with the family and want to make contact with Simon's brother drop me a PM and I'll see if I can get his details for you.
Gents, I don't want to stick my nose in here but I went through oasc biggin hill with a merchant navy navigation officer back in the mid 1980's. I'm probably way off beam here but it was he a big good looking blonde haired lad by any chance? I was looking at photo's of the lads at oasc just the other day! Alas.........I wasn't successful!
Sorry if I'm out of step here, but I just wondered?
Sorry if I'm out of step here, but I just wondered?
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Hi Mopardave,
I'm not exactly sure what 'oasc' Biggin Hill means (I had a guess) but is sounds close to Simon. You can send me a pm with a little more info
Graham
I'm not exactly sure what 'oasc' Biggin Hill means (I had a guess) but is sounds close to Simon. You can send me a pm with a little more info
Graham
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My apologies to members on this thread who have written to me through PM's I have only just got the hang of things and realised where your messages are.
I am used to other websites that immediately after signing in have a 'pop up'that shows a message has arrived. I will do better in future
Keep the reminiscences coming, I find them all quite fascinating. What a loss!
Graham
I am used to other websites that immediately after signing in have a 'pop up'that shows a message has arrived. I will do better in future
Keep the reminiscences coming, I find them all quite fascinating. What a loss!
Graham
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Hi all,
Graham pointed me in the direction of this forum (Thanks Graham) and was amazing to find so many great comments after all these years about my brother. It was a tragic loss and a day hasn't gone by when he isn't in my thoughts - mainly all the good memories he left us with - including that bloody Daf!!!
Yesterday would have been his 50th birthday and I posted up a photo on my Facebook as a reminder of him which normally sits on my office wall - some of you may remember it judging by the comments of where you remember him from.
Simon's IOT
Would be great to hear some of those stories if any of you are ever passing through Cheltenham. I'm intending to visit his memorial near the crash site in the coming weeks and show my kids where their uncle came to rest.
Cheers
Barnaby.
Graham pointed me in the direction of this forum (Thanks Graham) and was amazing to find so many great comments after all these years about my brother. It was a tragic loss and a day hasn't gone by when he isn't in my thoughts - mainly all the good memories he left us with - including that bloody Daf!!!
Yesterday would have been his 50th birthday and I posted up a photo on my Facebook as a reminder of him which normally sits on my office wall - some of you may remember it judging by the comments of where you remember him from.
Simon's IOT
Would be great to hear some of those stories if any of you are ever passing through Cheltenham. I'm intending to visit his memorial near the crash site in the coming weeks and show my kids where their uncle came to rest.
Cheers
Barnaby.
Last edited by LittleTommo; 24th May 2013 at 10:12.
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Well,Well Barnaby I did not realise you had been on this thread.
One of the congregation at St Margarets Church in Borth was going to send me a photo of the memorial this Spring, however Barnaby in the last few weeks sent me one.
I intended to put the a copy on this thread for those that were interested , but it seems that is not a possibility. (?)
I belong to a large Merchant Navy website (Ships Nostalgia), 4 years ago in the 'BP Shipping section" I started a similar thread, 'Simon Tompkins BP Navigating Apprentice 1979?", it had a very good response. In that website one can place attachments such as photographs, last year I put up Simons grave site headstone photo ( mentioned in Rusland's posting previously in this thread) and just this week one of the Memorial bench at Borth.
Just a question, can photographs be added as attachments to this site's threads?,
Stickshaker 2000********, I sent you an email pic of the memorial a few days ago.
Graham Wallace
One of the congregation at St Margarets Church in Borth was going to send me a photo of the memorial this Spring, however Barnaby in the last few weeks sent me one.
I intended to put the a copy on this thread for those that were interested , but it seems that is not a possibility. (?)
I belong to a large Merchant Navy website (Ships Nostalgia), 4 years ago in the 'BP Shipping section" I started a similar thread, 'Simon Tompkins BP Navigating Apprentice 1979?", it had a very good response. In that website one can place attachments such as photographs, last year I put up Simons grave site headstone photo ( mentioned in Rusland's posting previously in this thread) and just this week one of the Memorial bench at Borth.
Just a question, can photographs be added as attachments to this site's threads?,
Stickshaker 2000********, I sent you an email pic of the memorial a few days ago.
Graham Wallace
Graham yes they can, im sure one of the whizz kids will be along presently to explain how. Sorry to hear of your loss. I still remember the first pilot who died in my 27 years service. Spoke to him an hour before the accident, Flt lt John Skinner 1979 RIP. Never forgotten him and it still hurts.
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Simon.
Dear Mr Wallace,
I got to know Simon when he was holding with us on 28(AC) Sqn at Sek Kong prior to starting his training. He was a fine young man that was always pleasant company and fun to be with. When I finished at Sek Kong I ended up as an instructor at SARTU, RAF Valley. It was a great delight to meet Simon again when he arrived as a student on the Hawk and we socialised regularly, when he had the time! I distinctly remember the day when the crash alarm went and the details started filtering through. It was a terrible shock to find it was Simon that had been so tragically involved. Several days after the accident I was tasked with my crew to remove the wreckage from the hillside, a particularly tricky underslung load lift, but my privilege to have done.
I also attended his funeral and the singleton Hawk flypast was particularly memorable and well done. I recall it arrived in a gentle, fairly high speed, but quiet dive with the throttle closed and then applied full power as it flew over the congregation - stirring stuff!
May he rest in peace.
I got to know Simon when he was holding with us on 28(AC) Sqn at Sek Kong prior to starting his training. He was a fine young man that was always pleasant company and fun to be with. When I finished at Sek Kong I ended up as an instructor at SARTU, RAF Valley. It was a great delight to meet Simon again when he arrived as a student on the Hawk and we socialised regularly, when he had the time! I distinctly remember the day when the crash alarm went and the details started filtering through. It was a terrible shock to find it was Simon that had been so tragically involved. Several days after the accident I was tasked with my crew to remove the wreckage from the hillside, a particularly tricky underslung load lift, but my privilege to have done.
I also attended his funeral and the singleton Hawk flypast was particularly memorable and well done. I recall it arrived in a gentle, fairly high speed, but quiet dive with the throttle closed and then applied full power as it flew over the congregation - stirring stuff!
May he rest in peace.
Graham, Image Posting on PPRune - a guide - PPRuNe Forums
FILCI, see post #8 re the flypast. I flew the flypast for the memorial the following year.
FILCI, see post #8 re the flypast. I flew the flypast for the memorial the following year.
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Tommo remembered.
Graham & Barnaby,
Wow, it was a very strange thing that I found this thread, I rarely (maybe once a year) look at the Military Forum and I was browsing back through the pages with a cuppa and found this!
Absolutely fantastic to see so many nice things said about "Tommo"; I was at Linton with him following in his footsteps soon to join at RAF Valley when this tragic accident occurred.
Tommo & I "held" together at 42 Sqn RAF St Mawgan before BFT, we became very good friends and had more than enough laughs in the few years that I knew him.
I remember being dropped off at Landsend with a FO Whittle with rucksacks and tents in December and trudging along the North Cornish Coast slowly making our way back to Newquay in foul weather kipping in sand dunes and drinking in the pubs from as early to as late as possible just to stay warm!
I also remember being on detachment with Tommo and 42 Sqn out in Cyprus and me managing to dissuade Tommo, who was using his best negotiating skills, from losing a fortune on a "lady of the night" in Heroes Square, Limassol
He was a fine man and a good friend, his accident shocked us all and had a profound affect on many of us. I remember him frequently and am so glad to see that others do too.
I stayed in touch with Barnaby (and his wife Bryony) and his mother Helen for many years after that until she sadly passed away in Spain.
I shall raise one to "Tommo" tonight
I will PM both of you………..
Wow, it was a very strange thing that I found this thread, I rarely (maybe once a year) look at the Military Forum and I was browsing back through the pages with a cuppa and found this!
Absolutely fantastic to see so many nice things said about "Tommo"; I was at Linton with him following in his footsteps soon to join at RAF Valley when this tragic accident occurred.
Tommo & I "held" together at 42 Sqn RAF St Mawgan before BFT, we became very good friends and had more than enough laughs in the few years that I knew him.
I remember being dropped off at Landsend with a FO Whittle with rucksacks and tents in December and trudging along the North Cornish Coast slowly making our way back to Newquay in foul weather kipping in sand dunes and drinking in the pubs from as early to as late as possible just to stay warm!
I also remember being on detachment with Tommo and 42 Sqn out in Cyprus and me managing to dissuade Tommo, who was using his best negotiating skills, from losing a fortune on a "lady of the night" in Heroes Square, Limassol
He was a fine man and a good friend, his accident shocked us all and had a profound affect on many of us. I remember him frequently and am so glad to see that others do too.
I stayed in touch with Barnaby (and his wife Bryony) and his mother Helen for many years after that until she sadly passed away in Spain.
I shall raise one to "Tommo" tonight
I will PM both of you………..
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I have just realised I made a stupid mistake with the name of the Borth Church , It is St Matthew's, NOT St Margarets
https://plus.google.com/114475603495...ut?gl=uk&hl=en
Apologies,
Graham
https://plus.google.com/114475603495...ut?gl=uk&hl=en
Apologies,
Graham
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Simon Tompkins
Hi Graham,
l sailed with Simon on board the Osprey Arrow on her maiden voyage in 1985, he joined the vessel as third officer in Koje South Korea in early December. The Osprey Arrow was a 4th generation gantry crane ship at that stage partly owned by Jardine Matheson and managed by Jardine Ship Management of Hong Kong (at that time soon to be of Bermuda).
We sailed light ship across the north pacific to Vancouver Island and over Christmas/New Year loaded a full cargo of lumber at Cowichan Bay for USEC then on up to Europe to load for Indonesia where l left the vessel and the sea in May '86.
I have just recently moved house and whilst sorting through old letters l came across the last one received from Simon dated 20/12/1987, sadly l did not hear of his passing until 1989.(an hour ago I simply Goggled Simon Tompkins - RAF and found your thread)
In his letter Simon wrote about passing his mates ticket and receiving a Queens Commission as an acting pilot officer - quote: about as junior as one can get - the pay was appalling 250 pounds a month.
I did see Simon again after leaving the Jardine's, however l am a bit vague on the timing but it was in Hong Kong as he took me for a flight around the island in a Cessna - something not easily forgotten, I met his mother and socialised with both of them.
I must say Simon was one of the most decent blokes l had the pleasure of sailing with and as l read the thread was quite moved by the common sentiment expressed by all the contributors....a great testament to him.
I very much appreciate finally getting the full story - well the MOD version.
All the best
Martin
l sailed with Simon on board the Osprey Arrow on her maiden voyage in 1985, he joined the vessel as third officer in Koje South Korea in early December. The Osprey Arrow was a 4th generation gantry crane ship at that stage partly owned by Jardine Matheson and managed by Jardine Ship Management of Hong Kong (at that time soon to be of Bermuda).
We sailed light ship across the north pacific to Vancouver Island and over Christmas/New Year loaded a full cargo of lumber at Cowichan Bay for USEC then on up to Europe to load for Indonesia where l left the vessel and the sea in May '86.
I have just recently moved house and whilst sorting through old letters l came across the last one received from Simon dated 20/12/1987, sadly l did not hear of his passing until 1989.(an hour ago I simply Goggled Simon Tompkins - RAF and found your thread)
In his letter Simon wrote about passing his mates ticket and receiving a Queens Commission as an acting pilot officer - quote: about as junior as one can get - the pay was appalling 250 pounds a month.
I did see Simon again after leaving the Jardine's, however l am a bit vague on the timing but it was in Hong Kong as he took me for a flight around the island in a Cessna - something not easily forgotten, I met his mother and socialised with both of them.
I must say Simon was one of the most decent blokes l had the pleasure of sailing with and as l read the thread was quite moved by the common sentiment expressed by all the contributors....a great testament to him.
I very much appreciate finally getting the full story - well the MOD version.
All the best
Martin
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Hi Graham,
I spent 6 months at Plymouth College doing our chief mates licence with Simon...... I tried to join the RAF a few months before Simon and was unsuccessful.... and gave him lots of info on the selection process....... he was a great guy...... I have some old letters from him somewhere, not sure if I can still find them..... I didn't know his mother had passed as well, I have some letters from her also.....
Julian Legg: Email: [email protected]
I spent 6 months at Plymouth College doing our chief mates licence with Simon...... I tried to join the RAF a few months before Simon and was unsuccessful.... and gave him lots of info on the selection process....... he was a great guy...... I have some old letters from him somewhere, not sure if I can still find them..... I didn't know his mother had passed as well, I have some letters from her also.....
Julian Legg: Email: [email protected]