Barry Paton
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Barry Paton
It is with immense sadness that I report the death of Barry Paton, who died in the early hours of last Thursday morning (25th April), more than a year after his diagnosis of cancer.
For the RAF, Barry will be remembered as a notable Wessex pilot and instructor in the UK and Hong Kong, a Gazelle instructor and display pilot, and latterly as OC CFS(H) Squadron. Quite simply the funniest man I think I ever met, I sometimes wonder what the RBMR must have thought of him when he was on Loan Service in Brunei.
He left the RAF in the late 80s/early 90s to pursue an second career in civil aviation, initially with Air 2000. He flew "bucket and spades" for many years, while continuing to fly for a while with the AEF at Woodvale.
Love, thoughts and prayers are with Anne, Nick, Tom and their families and loved ones.
More details when available.
RIP mate, I'll miss you terribly.
[Perhaps someone could post (again) the photo of the CFS(H) Champagne Breakfast, with Bazza - so typically - at the centre of picture/attention/pressure/gravity.]
For the RAF, Barry will be remembered as a notable Wessex pilot and instructor in the UK and Hong Kong, a Gazelle instructor and display pilot, and latterly as OC CFS(H) Squadron. Quite simply the funniest man I think I ever met, I sometimes wonder what the RBMR must have thought of him when he was on Loan Service in Brunei.
He left the RAF in the late 80s/early 90s to pursue an second career in civil aviation, initially with Air 2000. He flew "bucket and spades" for many years, while continuing to fly for a while with the AEF at Woodvale.
Love, thoughts and prayers are with Anne, Nick, Tom and their families and loved ones.
More details when available.
RIP mate, I'll miss you terribly.
[Perhaps someone could post (again) the photo of the CFS(H) Champagne Breakfast, with Bazza - so typically - at the centre of picture/attention/pressure/gravity.]
Very sorry to hear this; Barry and I went through BFT/AFT together, parting at Chivenor, whence he went to helos. Always the life and soul of things. RIP mate and condolences to your family.
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I first met Barry on 28 Sqn in Hong Kong in 1976, where I took over from him as the Junior Pilot, and we flew together often in Northern Ireland in the years after that. Barry was a towering character in every sense of the word, full of life and an excellent pilot to boot.
One of my (many) lasting memories of Barry was when he, as a fellow QHI, handed a Wessex over to me at Shawbury, on a running change. I strapped into the RHS and took control. He unstrapped from the LHS and, just as he was leaving the cockpit, he switched both fuel computers off, and pulled one speed select lever back. Last seen running away giggling. Meanwhile, I had to work out how on earth to get things back to normal without wrecking a gearbox!
Barry brightened the lives of all he came into contact with. It is very apt that his will not be a Funeral, but a Service of Celebration. I will be there to join that celebration.
One of my (many) lasting memories of Barry was when he, as a fellow QHI, handed a Wessex over to me at Shawbury, on a running change. I strapped into the RHS and took control. He unstrapped from the LHS and, just as he was leaving the cockpit, he switched both fuel computers off, and pulled one speed select lever back. Last seen running away giggling. Meanwhile, I had to work out how on earth to get things back to normal without wrecking a gearbox!
Barry brightened the lives of all he came into contact with. It is very apt that his will not be a Funeral, but a Service of Celebration. I will be there to join that celebration.
Gentleman Aviator
Perhaps someone could post (again) the photo of the CFS(H) Champagne Breakfast
..and of course Barry has two ladies, one for each knee!
We all have so many stories on "Spitoon", which will be related again at the "Celebration", where I'm sure there will as much laughter as tears.
Such awful news - all love to Anne and the family.
RIP
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I've heard from Nick Paton on other means - the Service of Celebration (exactly right) will be at 1430 on 8th May at St Boniface's Church, Bunbury, CW6 9PE. Please spread the word.
KG86 - I think I've worked out the SSL and computer problem, but it took a while! I presume you did too - I'd have heard if you'd trashed the Main Drive...
KG86 - I think I've worked out the SSL and computer problem, but it took a while! I presume you did too - I'd have heard if you'd trashed the Main Drive...
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I had the pleasure of flying with Barry on a number of occasions with Air 2000. He was a great character and such fun to fly with. He and I were rostered to fly together for four days out of Newcastle on short-haul; I remember it went something like this:
Day One: Meet at the hotel in the morning, round of golf, Palma and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Two: Breakfast, round of golf, Ibiza and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Three: Breakfast, round of golf, Minorca and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Four: Breakfast, drive to the Borders, fly-fishing in a boat for a few hours, Reus and back in the evening.
Day Five: Breakfast, round of golf, fly home.
Great memories of happy days with Barry; very sad to hear of his passing.
Day One: Meet at the hotel in the morning, round of golf, Palma and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Two: Breakfast, round of golf, Ibiza and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Three: Breakfast, round of golf, Minorca and back in the afternoon, couple of beers and a curry in the evening.
Day Four: Breakfast, drive to the Borders, fly-fishing in a boat for a few hours, Reus and back in the evening.
Day Five: Breakfast, round of golf, fly home.
Great memories of happy days with Barry; very sad to hear of his passing.
From the non flying fraternity, I was a very junior Ops Clerk on 72 Sqn in 1979 and had the honour and privilege to work with Flt Lt Paton, funny yes, but also an extremely nice person who had time for everyone. RIP Sir.
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I knew him from RAF Kai Tak,1976-1978, I was a young rigger on Wessex Servicing Flight,1st Line,[28 Sqdn were not allowed to have groundcrew].We knew him as "Boots"because he had big feet,a good advantage when playing for the Bend em + Mend em football trophy,. A gentleman,Rest in Peace Sir.
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Dick,
I had the great pleasure of knowing Barry when I too was posted to Brunei on Loan Service. As I was a Pongo sergeant aircraft technician on the Bo 105s with No 2 Skn, we only got to mix occasionally. When we did though, copious amounts of beer were invariably involved, as this was in the '80s before Brunei went totally dry. Apart from the sergeants to the officer's mess and vice versa functions at Christmas and Hari Raya, we were both involved with BADS, Berekas Amateur Dramatic Society, and their production of, "Goldilocks and the three bears"! His depiction, along with another RAF Loan Service officer, Pete Hearn, as Ron & Ron the Crayfish twins was unforgettable.
Dick, you can be rest assured that Barry was highly respected by all in the RBAF and not only by the pilots who he had trained.
Please pass on our condolences to Anne and the family. Our thoughts and prays are with them at this sad time.
RIP Barry, you weren't too bad for a Crab officer!!
David & Sharon Airdrie.
I had the great pleasure of knowing Barry when I too was posted to Brunei on Loan Service. As I was a Pongo sergeant aircraft technician on the Bo 105s with No 2 Skn, we only got to mix occasionally. When we did though, copious amounts of beer were invariably involved, as this was in the '80s before Brunei went totally dry. Apart from the sergeants to the officer's mess and vice versa functions at Christmas and Hari Raya, we were both involved with BADS, Berekas Amateur Dramatic Society, and their production of, "Goldilocks and the three bears"! His depiction, along with another RAF Loan Service officer, Pete Hearn, as Ron & Ron the Crayfish twins was unforgettable.
Dick, you can be rest assured that Barry was highly respected by all in the RBAF and not only by the pilots who he had trained.
Please pass on our condolences to Anne and the family. Our thoughts and prays are with them at this sad time.
RIP Barry, you weren't too bad for a Crab officer!!
David & Sharon Airdrie.
So sad that we're only getting to see that photo whenever another good 'un has departed the fix.
'Spitoon' was on another Flight when I joined my first Sqn, 72, at Odiham. However, unlike some of the older pilots on my own Flight he always had time - especially on det to NI - to help and encourage the noobs; I used to enjoy spending extra time in Aldergrove when he, BM and some of the other people who were less 'full of themselves' were there. And - as already mentioned - he was funny as ****. I had no idea he'd preceded me in Brunei, but certainly heard plenty of the dits from his time in Sek Kong (he seemed to have a large part of the Line Book dedicated to his timely utterings).
CFS(H) has had some really good bosses - can they now please stop leaving early so we can appreciate them for longer?
'Spitoon' was on another Flight when I joined my first Sqn, 72, at Odiham. However, unlike some of the older pilots on my own Flight he always had time - especially on det to NI - to help and encourage the noobs; I used to enjoy spending extra time in Aldergrove when he, BM and some of the other people who were less 'full of themselves' were there. And - as already mentioned - he was funny as ****. I had no idea he'd preceded me in Brunei, but certainly heard plenty of the dits from his time in Sek Kong (he seemed to have a large part of the Line Book dedicated to his timely utterings).
CFS(H) has had some really good bosses - can they now please stop leaving early so we can appreciate them for longer?
