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Tributes after Cirencester plane crash victim named

THE Cirencester man who died in a plane crash after the aircraft nosedived into an Essex lake has been named as Simon Hulme.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of 33-year-old Flight Lt Simon Hulme who was based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

The bodies of Mr Hulme and another man from the Netherlands were found in the light aircraft submerged in the the lake near Maldon, Essex.

The Russian-built Yak 52 was reported to have been flying with two other aircraft before the crash last Thursday. It is believed the planes were carrying out formation practice.

Emergency services were called last Thursday by a member of the public and found the two-seater vintage aircraft in the lake with its tail about 10ft (3m) under water.

Flt Lt Hulme flew Hercules transport aircraft and had been in the Royal Air Force for 12 years on regular deployment to the Arabian Gulf and Afghanistan.

He was an experienced pilot and flying instructor.

A statement from RAF Lyneham described Simon as, "cheerful, enthusiastic and well-liked by all who knew him"

RAF Lyneham’s Station Commander, Group Captain John Gladston, said: "The sad death of Simon Hulme comes as terrible news to us all here at RAF Lyneham. Si was a well-known and popular officer whose passion was flying and adventurous training.

"I remember Si most for his infectious enthusiasm and energy, and his terrific sense of humour. He was a gifted aerobatic pilot who devoted a great deal of his time to flying outside of the Service.

"Whilst he died doing what he enjoyed most, it makes his loss no easier for those that knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Si’s family and friends at this most difficult time."

His parents said he was a "credit" to them and said they were comforted in knowing he died doing what he loved. For more see next week's Standard.

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