PO Simon Tompkins,RAF Valley 1989
 

This young man(26) was killed in a flying training accident on 14th June1989 in Wales.

I was his godfather, knew all his family very well, moved to Canada after his birth and lost touch with his family. In 1995 I heard he was killed in a mid air collision in a training flight in Scotland. It was not until a few years ago I heard the correct story of the accident in Wales. This summer I visited his gravesite in Yorkshire, he is buried next to his mother.

Is there anyone around who might have more information about Simon and his brief career in the RAF and also the accident.
His father was Richard Tompkins the owner of the Green Shield Stamp company
Graham Wallace

Very sad. You'll find a summary of the accident report on the MOD website here.

Mr. Wallace

Please check your private messages.

Kind regards L

Was this the same fellow who had done a stint with the merchant navy? If it was, he went through Valley with members of my BFT course who went Gp1. He seemed to be a real character, very popular and a great laugh to spend time with. If my memory serves me right, the docs told him that his cholestorol scores were off the clock and he MUST cut out the fried food, or else he wouldn't last long. He did and was SO miserable that he said he didn't care and went back to the curries and fried bread. Weeks later, this happened :sad:

Mr Wallace,

I was on Simon's course - he was known as 'Tommo' - and will fill you in on as much detail as you'd like.

I'll send you a private message with my details and we can write/chat; I'll also put you in touch with other members of our course who will share their thoughts on one of the most honest and enjoyable people to be around.

Regards,

FB11

Mr Wallace,

I went through Initial Officer Training with Si and was at Valley on the course behind him. Si was a top bloke honest and a great sense of humour. I remember that day well for all the wrong reasons. I had been on GDT, shooting guns and doing first aid etc when the crash tannoy came through. I was at Simons funeral in Yorkshire and remember him often. I'll P.M. you.

Ivor

Very many thanks to you all most wonderful and surprising replies. I am totally blown away with such fast response, I will take them further.
Simon was indeed in the Merchant Navy, a 1979 Navigating Cadet with BP, finished his 'time' and moved on to a Company in Hong Kong as 3rd Officer. Left around 1986/7 and joined the RAF with the eventual tragic result. From all I have found out he was a very special character. I am in touch with his half brother Barnaby.
I was a 1955 intake BP Marine Engineering Apprentice and have been running a website( BP Marine Engineering Apprentices) for last 12 years attempting to find fellow apprentices, located 460 with names and info on a further 2600 A few years ago branched out to locate any ex BP seagoing person and that's how I found Simon.
About 3 years ago I made a database of BP Navigating Apprentices/Cadets ( over 4000 names) and actively started searching them out.
In 2011 I made a new Navigating Cadet contact (Gary Pearson) who joined BP with Simon ,sailed with him as an Cadet on their first ship. He like Simon eventually left BP and both met each other on their 'first' day in the RAF, Gary went on to Air Traffic control and was in Germany when Simon died. He casually mention in one of his emails to me that I could add the name Simon Tompkins to my Navigating Apprentice/Cadets database... and that started everything in motion...I never knew before that time that his mother must have guided Simon to go to sea following his Uncle and me (Syd and I were best friends). I knew his mother's family very well.
Graham

Tommo is buried in Legsby, near Market Rasen, in Lincolnshire.

I too was at the funeral. Before mobile phones and GPS and there was to be a flypast. A complex system of links by radio from the church to a local landrover with a bigger radio to somewhere nearby, like Binbrook. The party exited the church early and the message was relayed to arrive early. The Vicar however compensated and added an extra prayer. More messages ensued. Anyway, the result was wonderful - a single Hawk, slow and at idle, flew over just as the last note of the last post faded away and climbed serenely into cloud. The wake was at the family home which I think was next to the church.

Yes he is, next to his mother. Evidently she drove the Grave Committee(?) nuts as all the graves in the extension cemetary face East(?), his and hers face West.
But there is a very special reason why.
Graham

I was in the same flight as Simon on IOT at Cranwell and I believe I still have a flight photo. If you wanted I could scan it and email it to you. He was a very popular member of the flight and well liked by all and one of only 3 of us that wasn't recoursed.

I was also on IOT with Tommo and the course behind at Valley. Completely echo the sentiments of others here, a charming fella and general all-round nice bloke.
It was tragically I think the first taste the "studes" had of losing a colleague and friend. Thankfully rare in flying training but sadly not-so in the years to come.
It was certainly the first occasion of drinking on an "open" bar-book and toasting Tommo that evening.
I even remember a "no-jeopardy" non syllabus trip the next morning just to get those who wanted to, back in the air.

Will gladly PM with details as I remember them.

ATB
SG

I was one of his instructors earlier in his flying career. He was a genuine character and I was very sad to hear of his accident.

Hi ,
Thanks for your comments, is there any chance you can contact me directly?

Grahm Wallace

I too remember Simon. He was a member of the Hong Kong Aviation Club for about a year or so. Whether he was still with the Merchant Navy, or waiting to join the Royal Air Force I'm not too sure, but as others have said he was a top guy. He loved his flying and was always at the club. We were all shocked when news of his death reached us.

PM sent, was one of Tommo BFTS instructors...

NoD

Gary Pearson
 

Its a pity we all seem to use pseudonyms as there a few of you on 104 IOT. Its great to see people talking fondly about Simon. As Graeme knows, trouble seemed to follow Simon when he served in the merchant Navy and also I believe for some of IOT.

Turning up at Cranwell and seeing him sitting there 4 years after we left BP Shipping was a great surprise. We also shared a ship for our first trip at sea and we were on the same course at Fleetwood Nautical College.

Graeme shared a photo with me recently of Simon's headstone and it hits home that as I passed 50 he only made it to 26.

I will continue to remember Simon fondly and could dine out on Simon stories for the rest of my life. I thank him for that. Every time I watch only fools and horses and see the Robin of Del Boy I laugh. Simon borrowed a DAF 33 three wheeler and racked up a steady stream of implausible disasters with that car. If we ever share a beer, ask me to fill in the details.

PM Sent. Agree, we all hide behind pseudonyms. Anyone else from 104 IOT, 73 Cse BFT, 180 Valley etc...?
Rgds
SG

Was 104 and then 73, remember Tommo well, but not 180. Instead, went RW.

Mick Elsegood
 

I was on 6 Flt 104 IOT with Simon

Simon
 

Mr Wallace,

I didn't know Simon but lost several friends during 32 years in the RAF. If it's not too distressing, could you tell why Simon and his mother's grave faced a different way to the remainder?

Kind regards,
Tommee_hawk