Cumbria helicopter crash: tributes and condolences
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I knew their had to be someone!
And .. they are the Blue Eagles.
I knew their had to be someone!
The funeral service commemorating Mark Weir will take place at 1pm on Monday, March 21, 2011 at St. John’s Church, Keswick. People are encouraged to wear something “Orange,” to commemorate the bright colours of Honister, and Mark’s personality.
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Savoia.....nice photo's and how apt is that Honister Orange smoke....yes Mark would smile at that one....
As for Mr T Coupling...yes your dead right there will always be one!! He has spent most of his spare time over the last few days on the other pprune forum trying to convince folk that this accident was probably caused by Marks mis-judgements!!
To me he is obviously an ex military type that gives this air of authority that if he says it, it must be correct......sadly his aircraft recognition has tripped him up here as its obvious the picture is of AAC Gazelles and hence the Blue Eagles.
He took great delight in telling me I should stay off that forum if Mark was a friend......based on that why has he come to this forum that is set aside for friends passing condolences only to show his bad feeling and ignorance here. I suggest to Mr Coupling you stay off this forum unless you have some respect to pay to Mark.
As for Mr T Coupling...yes your dead right there will always be one!! He has spent most of his spare time over the last few days on the other pprune forum trying to convince folk that this accident was probably caused by Marks mis-judgements!!
To me he is obviously an ex military type that gives this air of authority that if he says it, it must be correct......sadly his aircraft recognition has tripped him up here as its obvious the picture is of AAC Gazelles and hence the Blue Eagles.
He took great delight in telling me I should stay off that forum if Mark was a friend......based on that why has he come to this forum that is set aside for friends passing condolences only to show his bad feeling and ignorance here. I suggest to Mr Coupling you stay off this forum unless you have some respect to pay to Mark.
Calm down fisbangwetfish. If you go back and look youll find it wasnt me inviting you to stay off the other thread.
Yes apologies, I automatically assumed that as it was us who invented the roulette break in the first place in 1983, then it was a picture of us. Drinks all round
I have no intention of violating the memory of this gentleman, but I don't see the link between a military display team in full flow and Mark. Can someone enlighten me please?
Yes apologies, I automatically assumed that as it was us who invented the roulette break in the first place in 1983, then it was a picture of us. Drinks all round
I have no intention of violating the memory of this gentleman, but I don't see the link between a military display team in full flow and Mark. Can someone enlighten me please?
TC
My interpretation is that it's a final salute to a truly great bloke, who enjoyed his life to the full, by the machine he loved since he was a kid. The happy coincidence that the display includes 'Honister orange' smoke is a poignant and fitting epitaph. Mark will be chuckling at that one
My interpretation is that it's a final salute to a truly great bloke, who enjoyed his life to the full, by the machine he loved since he was a kid. The happy coincidence that the display includes 'Honister orange' smoke is a poignant and fitting epitaph. Mark will be chuckling at that one
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Such a shame that once again we are mourning the loss of one of our own.
Been looking through the thread and its evident that he was a real character who loved his flying and sharing the pure joy of flying with others.
Rest in Peace
Been looking through the thread and its evident that he was a real character who loved his flying and sharing the pure joy of flying with others.
Rest in Peace
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TTB: Thank you.
Is there anyone from the Rotorheads community who attended the funeral and who could provide a brief narrative of the event?
Mark, from the YouTube videos and FB comments, seemed to make time for kids and I was impressed to see relatively young children paying tribute to him on FB.
S.
TTB: Thank you.
Is there anyone from the Rotorheads community who attended the funeral and who could provide a brief narrative of the event?
Mark, from the YouTube videos and FB comments, seemed to make time for kids and I was impressed to see relatively young children paying tribute to him on FB.
S.
Fisbang attended I believe, so I hope he'll post something. According to the Facetube site, the church was packed solid and only standing room outside. No surprise there then.
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In Memory of Mark Weir - Gazelle Pilot
Honister Slate Mine would like to thank all those in the helicopter and aviation community for their kinds words regarding Mark Weir.
He loved flying and the camaraderie that exists among pilots on your website. You may know Mark Weir had hoped to win planning permission for a new zip wire at Honister Slate Mine.
Mark’s family has now re-submitted the application to the Lake District National Park Authority.
They are calling it the "Zip Weir," in memory of him. Mark was working tirelessly on this before his accident and his family are not giving up on his vision.
For the debate to be a fair one and not shouted down, you may feel it's something you want to support?
It's entirely up to you, but it doesn't have to be very long and it's very easy to do.
All you have to do is email [email protected] quoting the application reference number which is 7/2011/2054 and give your opinion.
Many thanks again from all at Honister Slate Mine
He loved flying and the camaraderie that exists among pilots on your website. You may know Mark Weir had hoped to win planning permission for a new zip wire at Honister Slate Mine.
Mark’s family has now re-submitted the application to the Lake District National Park Authority.
They are calling it the "Zip Weir," in memory of him. Mark was working tirelessly on this before his accident and his family are not giving up on his vision.
For the debate to be a fair one and not shouted down, you may feel it's something you want to support?
It's entirely up to you, but it doesn't have to be very long and it's very easy to do.
All you have to do is email [email protected] quoting the application reference number which is 7/2011/2054 and give your opinion.
Many thanks again from all at Honister Slate Mine
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RIP MW
Viewing the Ch4 documentary, I have to say it's difficult to relate the guy working hard at Honister and his obvious enthusiasm at getting a business up and running with the words and views expressed here. I met MW just once at SPR's engineering business when he was collecting his Enstrom, (G-COLL I believe) We were in discussion with a view to him acquiring a display authority. He also told me about the derelict slate mine in the Lake District and his purchase and subsequent restoration. For the life of me I cannot see how a local planning authority would prefer to see the rusting steel derrick of an old slate mine remain at the site as an absolute eyesore while not accepting a thin, almost invisible 1 inch zip wire. Madness when mother nature or a scrambling sheep can destroy a cherished plant in seconds. On the CH4 programme at least one elequent councillor spoke common sense.
Yes, the various Gazelle videos of him 'horsing around' wouldn't have helped his aviation reputation and has been rightly regarded as unprofessional on this site. But there are very few of us who haven't stepped outside the line at some time or other. But reputation is what a person is thought to be. Character is what a person is. In that respect MW was certainly a character. To me, he seemed an energetic, plain-speaking Northerner ... and a warm family man who got on with the job. Let's bless him now and may his God help the family he left behind keep the Honister slate mine running successfully. Dennis Kenyon.
Yes, the various Gazelle videos of him 'horsing around' wouldn't have helped his aviation reputation and has been rightly regarded as unprofessional on this site. But there are very few of us who haven't stepped outside the line at some time or other. But reputation is what a person is thought to be. Character is what a person is. In that respect MW was certainly a character. To me, he seemed an energetic, plain-speaking Northerner ... and a warm family man who got on with the job. Let's bless him now and may his God help the family he left behind keep the Honister slate mine running successfully. Dennis Kenyon.
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Well said DK!
Just finished watching the documentary, Truly amazing guy, what a loss to the community in the lakes.
Lets all sponsor English Heritage and purchase a few sheep to put on the hill!!!
R.I.P. Mark.........
Just finished watching the documentary, Truly amazing guy, what a loss to the community in the lakes.
Lets all sponsor English Heritage and purchase a few sheep to put on the hill!!!
R.I.P. Mark.........
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well said dennis the voice of reason is alive and well!! and glad you had an insight into our lives up here. and im glad you shared a piece of our lives up here pennine boy..
somehow a piece of moss is more important than a child experiencing a genuine high octane thrill... somehow while ive been sleeping we have arrived in this nanny state.
rip great man they need urging to resubmit the plans. and yeah he horsed around you tube is an a to z of low flying but he needed that escapeism and while i dont condone low flying, right up to the end he only harmed himself. the skies are so much poorer without him. rip.
somehow a piece of moss is more important than a child experiencing a genuine high octane thrill... somehow while ive been sleeping we have arrived in this nanny state.
rip great man they need urging to resubmit the plans. and yeah he horsed around you tube is an a to z of low flying but he needed that escapeism and while i dont condone low flying, right up to the end he only harmed himself. the skies are so much poorer without him. rip.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
iPlayer link to the recent BBC4 programme on Mark.
BBC iPlayer - Tales from the National Parks: The Lake District
BBC iPlayer - Tales from the National Parks: The Lake District
In the Lake District, entrepreneur Mark Weir wants to build a giant zip-wire ride from the top of a beautiful, remote mountain. But what chance does it have of getting permission when there are over 400 objectors to it? Tragically, Mark is killed in an accident during filming and never lives to see if his zip-wire becomes a reality.
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The BBC4 (not Ch4) documentary provided a good balance for those who never met this man, in comparison to the opinion that may have been formed by many of us who only found out about him as a result of this tragedy.
MW was obviously an energetic & committed individual who cared about his environment, his business, his colleagues & his family (not necessarily in that order). Thumbing your nose at authority has its merits, may be admired, but is something not many are bold enough to do. However, it does need to be done subtely, and often needs a return to sensible negotiation when you're up against bodies like Natural England.
I agree wholeheartedly with those who supported the idea of challenging youth & adults alike, introducing them to nature & wonderful countryside in an exciting manner, and helping to support a difficult business in tough times through spectacular, though sensitive (IHMO) innovation. I can't believe that the single track via ferrata was destroying the only saxifrage in the area, or that the damage would be any more than other walkers straying off the normal paths to avoid a pile of sheep poo! Most walkers would hardly notice the zip-wire - certainly not in comparison to the helicopter they may have been used to. I admire the Council officer who was trying to enhance the park for the much-needed tourist ££s, & trust he will help Honnister submit a revised application. Some of the Members of the authority seemed spectacular "stick-in-the-muds" by not appreciating how many people might learn about their environment, (who might otherwise not) such that they might take more effort to protect it in the future, when they're shown how delicate it already is - you can't make an omlette etc.
That's my rant in support of the man, in the direction he was obviously aiming for in his area/business/environment. From a flying point of view, I refer readers to my previous comments which are effectively summed up around the fact that, if you live close to the limits, you're enhancing your risk of exceeding them at some stage and you need to hope that your skill, or the aircraft, will enable you to get back in control before it's too late. Sadly, from evidence/conjecture at this stage, something would appear not to have allowed that.
It doesn't mean that he was a bad man just, possibly, that his risk evaluation may have let him down on this occasion.
RIP MW
MW was obviously an energetic & committed individual who cared about his environment, his business, his colleagues & his family (not necessarily in that order). Thumbing your nose at authority has its merits, may be admired, but is something not many are bold enough to do. However, it does need to be done subtely, and often needs a return to sensible negotiation when you're up against bodies like Natural England.
I agree wholeheartedly with those who supported the idea of challenging youth & adults alike, introducing them to nature & wonderful countryside in an exciting manner, and helping to support a difficult business in tough times through spectacular, though sensitive (IHMO) innovation. I can't believe that the single track via ferrata was destroying the only saxifrage in the area, or that the damage would be any more than other walkers straying off the normal paths to avoid a pile of sheep poo! Most walkers would hardly notice the zip-wire - certainly not in comparison to the helicopter they may have been used to. I admire the Council officer who was trying to enhance the park for the much-needed tourist ££s, & trust he will help Honnister submit a revised application. Some of the Members of the authority seemed spectacular "stick-in-the-muds" by not appreciating how many people might learn about their environment, (who might otherwise not) such that they might take more effort to protect it in the future, when they're shown how delicate it already is - you can't make an omlette etc.
That's my rant in support of the man, in the direction he was obviously aiming for in his area/business/environment. From a flying point of view, I refer readers to my previous comments which are effectively summed up around the fact that, if you live close to the limits, you're enhancing your risk of exceeding them at some stage and you need to hope that your skill, or the aircraft, will enable you to get back in control before it's too late. Sadly, from evidence/conjecture at this stage, something would appear not to have allowed that.
It doesn't mean that he was a bad man just, possibly, that his risk evaluation may have let him down on this occasion.
RIP MW
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Great documentary, but very sad to watch, knowing what happened, can you believe those guys from Natural England, what a bunch of idiots, its this kind of attitude thats wrong for this country, a little bit of moss and a few flowers trampled but now kids from all over the place cannot enjoy some spectacular thrills such a shame !
Mark must have been very frustrated dealing with them ! I feel like writing to them and expressing my views.
Mark must have been very frustrated dealing with them ! I feel like writing to them and expressing my views.
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In Marks memory guys, lets stop bashing the rights and wrongs of flying, lets all put our energies into a petition to see through Marks vision of trying to get planning permission for the zip wire.
For fu--s sake I and my friends have been going upto the lakes for a long time and I dont know of many people that actually climb the fells, most just use the cafes and bars in windermere and others.
If this can bring a few smiles on people faces that would enjoy the thrill of rock climbing and decending down a zip wire then fantastic! If the climb around the path wasnt there originally then the do gooders at English what ever in there W1 office complex wouldnt have known about a load of daisies, moss or other ****e that that was growing there in the first place! How much are these people on? I could think of more important things in life to do!
So come on pruners lets try and do something that would put a smile on alot of peoples faces!
P.B.
Come on Stringfellow! Lets do!!!!!!!!!!!!
For fu--s sake I and my friends have been going upto the lakes for a long time and I dont know of many people that actually climb the fells, most just use the cafes and bars in windermere and others.
If this can bring a few smiles on people faces that would enjoy the thrill of rock climbing and decending down a zip wire then fantastic! If the climb around the path wasnt there originally then the do gooders at English what ever in there W1 office complex wouldnt have known about a load of daisies, moss or other ****e that that was growing there in the first place! How much are these people on? I could think of more important things in life to do!
So come on pruners lets try and do something that would put a smile on alot of peoples faces!
P.B.
Come on Stringfellow! Lets do!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what if he flew low as long as he didnt break rule 5 then what is the problem? ( not the same as flying into cloud with ****e viz) Life is full of risks its how you manage them that counts, after all we all drive at 60 plus on an A road with other cars doing the same within 10 ft. Now that is a closing speed of 120 mph within 10 ft, everyone thinks that is acceptable