Danny Woolf
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Danny Woolf signed me off as a PPL in 1994 and was always around with a friendly word of advice in the early days afterwards.
I heard he was ill, but thought that he may have recovered.
It is a very sad loss for all of us who knew Danny and my condolences go to those close to him.
A very nice and decent man.
I heard he was ill, but thought that he may have recovered.
It is a very sad loss for all of us who knew Danny and my condolences go to those close to him.
A very nice and decent man.
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When I was doing my AFI course with Danny, I was having a moan about the fact that a friend of mine had got a job flying a jet and I didn't despite having more hours than he did, Danny said, "At least one day you will get your Boeing"
On another day I flew him in the venerable G-BOTF to Cranfield for him to do a GFT on somebody. I was sitting outside the flying school when one of the instructors came up to me and said "Oh my god, I have told my student to start the engine in that plane over there and I have now got to go and get in it with a CAA examiner over there"
I recounted this story to Danny on the flight back to Southend, and he goes "What was he worried about, I am not CAA I am Danny!" I think that just about summed him up.
He had a great way of putting everything into perspective. He never made you feel stupid when telling you what you did wrong. Probably one of the best instructors I have ever flown with.
Why does the worst stuff happen to the nicest guys?
On another day I flew him in the venerable G-BOTF to Cranfield for him to do a GFT on somebody. I was sitting outside the flying school when one of the instructors came up to me and said "Oh my god, I have told my student to start the engine in that plane over there and I have now got to go and get in it with a CAA examiner over there"
I recounted this story to Danny on the flight back to Southend, and he goes "What was he worried about, I am not CAA I am Danny!" I think that just about summed him up.
He had a great way of putting everything into perspective. He never made you feel stupid when telling you what you did wrong. Probably one of the best instructors I have ever flown with.
Why does the worst stuff happen to the nicest guys?
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To those among us who wish to make a donation in memory of Danny then Janet, his wife, has suggested a donation to the address
below, where Danny spent some of his last days. An alternative is a donation to cancer reseach in his memory.
Fairhaven Hospice
126 Chalkwell Ave.
Westcliff on Sea,
Essex.
SS0 8HN
Thanks to everyone for there kind thoughts.
below, where Danny spent some of his last days. An alternative is a donation to cancer reseach in his memory.
Fairhaven Hospice
126 Chalkwell Ave.
Westcliff on Sea,
Essex.
SS0 8HN
Thanks to everyone for there kind thoughts.
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Thanks for the suitable donation info' I'll arrange to send mine
to Fairhaven,
I cant imagine Southend without Danny being around, although I'm sure he will be with us in spirit everytime we fly,
why do the good people die young, life is not fair,
to Fairhaven,
I cant imagine Southend without Danny being around, although I'm sure he will be with us in spirit everytime we fly,
why do the good people die young, life is not fair,
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This has been an extraordinary thread.
The number of people whose lives Danny changed for ever is fantastic. And that there should be a thread such as this is, in my experience of PPRuNe, unprecedented in that there is not one expression of anything but admiration for who Danny was and what he did, and sorry at our loss and that of his family.
I shall also be making a donation in his memory, but perhaps the best tribute we can all pay him is to remember in our flying his enthusiasm, his professionalism, and, most of all, everything he ever taught us.
It's quite humbling, really. We probably would all wish to receive such tributes after our own demise as have been paid to Danny. In truth, not many of us will.
The number of people whose lives Danny changed for ever is fantastic. And that there should be a thread such as this is, in my experience of PPRuNe, unprecedented in that there is not one expression of anything but admiration for who Danny was and what he did, and sorry at our loss and that of his family.
I shall also be making a donation in his memory, but perhaps the best tribute we can all pay him is to remember in our flying his enthusiasm, his professionalism, and, most of all, everything he ever taught us.
It's quite humbling, really. We probably would all wish to receive such tributes after our own demise as have been paid to Danny. In truth, not many of us will.
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Danny's Wife Janet has contacted me and asked me to post the following :-
She thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and condolences to a loving Husband and Father and it is nice to know he was so well liked by so many friends.
She has been surprised and helped in her loss by the comments on this thread and letters, cards, and phone calls she has received.
I would like to add my thanks to everyone.
Regards
Steamhead.
She thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and condolences to a loving Husband and Father and it is nice to know he was so well liked by so many friends.
She has been surprised and helped in her loss by the comments on this thread and letters, cards, and phone calls she has received.
I would like to add my thanks to everyone.
Regards
Steamhead.
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I Have been asked to post the following :-
Danny Woolf
“Southend Tower. Golf Victor Kilo clear of Runway 24, pausing at the 06 Holding Point. The pilot will now be Danny Woolf for a First Solo. Over.”
It was noon on Dec. 23rd. 1975, a bright clear day with a light SW wind and very light traffic. He taxied away, took off and returned to guide the blue and white Cherokee over the firm, yet bumpy grass outside Southend Light Aviation Centre; a very broad smile on his face said it all!
That was the beginning of the end of Danny’s days working hard on the London markets, selling tools. When times were hard financially we used to joke and say that the only people who could afford to fly were dentists and market traders! Danny, of course, disagreed emphatically!
In the Seventies there was much business to be had at both the Flying Club and the Airport in general. Danny progressed from a basic P.P.L. to add to his qualifications and follow the Assistant Flying Instructors’ Course. Despite being unable to gain a Night Rating due to his colour blindness he carried on undeterred to reach his ultimate goal – that of a Qualified Flying Instructor. As we all know, the C.A.A. has constantly moved the goal posts on the field of aviation, and when the regulations came in for all Instructors to have a Commercial Licence Danny was fearful because of his night restriction. However he worked hard to pass the necessary exams and was granted the (restricted) C.P.L. which he duly deserved.
We all know that the rungs of the ladder are not there merely to rest upon, but as a means of climbing higher. After a few years initially instructing a Seawing Flying Club, Danny returned to his old hunting ground. Southend Light Aviation Centre had long since become Southend Flying Club and it was as C.F.I. that Danny rejoined some familiar faces.
As the years passed Danny added more qualifications to his status, to include that of F.I.C. Instructor and finally Panel Examiner, for which he was in great demand on both single and twin-engined aircraft. He always claimed that he did not find studying easy and it is to his immense credit that he persevered, and thus spent many hours running Instructor Courses in his Warrior G-BOTF.
It was in his early days at the Club that he met Janet Lovegrove, who used to help in the Office on Saturdays-and the rest, as they say, is history! Danny married Janet and their union produced three lovely children of whom he was very proud – Ben, Sam and Kate. Danny valued a good education very highly, and with Janet, did his utmost to make sure that his family had a good start in life.
Danny’s main interests were flying, music and literature, and many a rainy Winter’s day when there was no flying we spent time discussing (not always in agreement!) the merits and such of certain literary figures. Poetry he loved, and far from the world of Betjeman and amongst all the verses we shared over the years I now think only of Kingsford Smith when he finally was parted from his aircraft, the Southern Cross:
“Old faithful friend – a long adieu.
These are poor words with which to tell
Of all my pride, my joy in you.
True to the end you served us well.”
Annie B
Danny Woolf
“Southend Tower. Golf Victor Kilo clear of Runway 24, pausing at the 06 Holding Point. The pilot will now be Danny Woolf for a First Solo. Over.”
It was noon on Dec. 23rd. 1975, a bright clear day with a light SW wind and very light traffic. He taxied away, took off and returned to guide the blue and white Cherokee over the firm, yet bumpy grass outside Southend Light Aviation Centre; a very broad smile on his face said it all!
That was the beginning of the end of Danny’s days working hard on the London markets, selling tools. When times were hard financially we used to joke and say that the only people who could afford to fly were dentists and market traders! Danny, of course, disagreed emphatically!
In the Seventies there was much business to be had at both the Flying Club and the Airport in general. Danny progressed from a basic P.P.L. to add to his qualifications and follow the Assistant Flying Instructors’ Course. Despite being unable to gain a Night Rating due to his colour blindness he carried on undeterred to reach his ultimate goal – that of a Qualified Flying Instructor. As we all know, the C.A.A. has constantly moved the goal posts on the field of aviation, and when the regulations came in for all Instructors to have a Commercial Licence Danny was fearful because of his night restriction. However he worked hard to pass the necessary exams and was granted the (restricted) C.P.L. which he duly deserved.
We all know that the rungs of the ladder are not there merely to rest upon, but as a means of climbing higher. After a few years initially instructing a Seawing Flying Club, Danny returned to his old hunting ground. Southend Light Aviation Centre had long since become Southend Flying Club and it was as C.F.I. that Danny rejoined some familiar faces.
As the years passed Danny added more qualifications to his status, to include that of F.I.C. Instructor and finally Panel Examiner, for which he was in great demand on both single and twin-engined aircraft. He always claimed that he did not find studying easy and it is to his immense credit that he persevered, and thus spent many hours running Instructor Courses in his Warrior G-BOTF.
It was in his early days at the Club that he met Janet Lovegrove, who used to help in the Office on Saturdays-and the rest, as they say, is history! Danny married Janet and their union produced three lovely children of whom he was very proud – Ben, Sam and Kate. Danny valued a good education very highly, and with Janet, did his utmost to make sure that his family had a good start in life.
Danny’s main interests were flying, music and literature, and many a rainy Winter’s day when there was no flying we spent time discussing (not always in agreement!) the merits and such of certain literary figures. Poetry he loved, and far from the world of Betjeman and amongst all the verses we shared over the years I now think only of Kingsford Smith when he finally was parted from his aircraft, the Southern Cross:
“Old faithful friend – a long adieu.
These are poor words with which to tell
Of all my pride, my joy in you.
True to the end you served us well.”
Annie B
