Sandy's Funeral service
 

Sandy Thomson (ATA)

After a short illness Sandy died this morning 21st December 2003.
My condolences to his dear wife Betty, two sons Paul and Rory and Grandchild.

Eamonn.

Sandy's Funeral service will be held on Friday 2nd January 2004 at Mid Warwickshire Crematorium, Oakley Wood, Nr. Wellesbourne, Warwickshire at 11.30am and later at the Glengary Guest House, London Road, Coventry CV3 4EX

Family flowers only please, but donations if desired to Shipston Home Nursing c/o R. Locke and Son. Funeral Director, Caution Corner, Brailes, Oxon. OX15 5EZ

Kind Regards
Betty

A very sad day.
 

Sandy was one of the best ground instructors that I have ever had the pleasure to meet , his was a true gift of being able to put across very dry parts of the ATPL syilibus in a way that kept me and countless others awake.

I think that it is true to say that I would not be sitting in the front of a jet airliner if it had not been for Sandys ability to teach perf A.

However a little of Sandys spirit lives on in all of us who met him and tonight as I enjoy a "dish of tea" high over the Bay of Biscay I will be thinking of the man who did so much to help me in this business.

I could say much more about Sandy but others on this forum would probably say it much more eliquently.

R.I.P Sandy.

Actually A and C I think you did a pretty good job. Sandy is indeed a well loved guy and there are a great many who owe a lot to him. Salt of the earth

RIP.

I too had the great fortune of being taught by Sandy and equally owe alot to him for where i am today.

great man, great knowledge........and if i remember correctly from a night in the Mill - a pretty good drinker too.

RIP Sandy.

Sandy was a true gentleman who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

What Sandy didn't know wasn't worth knowing.

A glass of Chenin Blanc always brings back fond memories of old Sandy down 'The Mill'

From the class of April/July 2002 ( Neil, Chris, Pat, Dean, Stavros, Jonny, Brendan, Jay, Rob ) may Sandy rest in peace and our thoughts go out to his family at this time of sad loss.

RIP Sandy

I agree - and ATA won't really be the same without him. Some people ARE irreplaceable after all. Our class of Oct 2001-April 2002 (Sumo, Schoey, Stelios, le JP, Jeff, Stef, Geezer, Irish Martin, Sam etc) will surely miss him.

Adios!

My sympathies go out to his family and friends.

RIP, and God Bless.

Re---Sandy!
 

A posting in pprune that I am soo sad to see!
Glad that it was quick for the "Big Fella"!
Go back to the bad old days with him at WW and before at PPSC.
Remember the Cheese and wine runs over to France, don't even think that anyone had a multi licence at the time. Trinidad, Palm Beach and Flight Safety as well!
The carribean rum slot machine!
The crates of Champagne that would mysteriously dissapear from the bar at WW, only to re-appear on a Friday afternoon!
So many stories and happy memories!
Without Sandy's help myself and many would not be enjoying this very wonderful profession!
With that I am in no doubt!
He will be off teaching Marley the joys of Fright Planning and Perf A.

A Simple thanks Sandy, take care!

The world is truly a poorer place for Sandy's passing. There simply are not enough genuine, warm, open hearted people like Sandy Thomson in life.

I feel privileged that I have had the chance to have met him. His generosity and magnanimity, especially down at the Old Mill, were legendary. Sandy's selfless spirit helped many of his students out, myself included, when they were in a tight spot. It was almost like having a surrogate grandfather.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is in heaven right now drinking the place dry telling stories about the Beverly and the Belfast.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Sandy's family, many many friends and colleagues who, like me, will be mourning his passing.

God bless.

I remember Sandy at PPSC in 1988. He was one of aviations really good eggs and that came across in his teaching.

There really should be more like him and the world would be a more decent place.

Sincere regards and condolences to his family.

I , like many others have fond memories of Sandy, he certainly made the ATPL and Perf "A" seem effortless compared to some of his contemporaries.

Will always remember his taste for Chenin Blanc down at the OAK and latterly the OLD MILL.

My condolences to Betty and the rest of the family.

A True Gentleman.

This Earth will be a sadder place with his "Departure".

Rest in Peace mate.

I remember Sandy well from my days at ATA in Coventry.
He was the person that got me through my ground school subjects. Sandy had a natural ability when it came to teaching, combining it with wit and humour.
Definately a great loss.

Thank you Sandy for helping me achieve the qualifications that allowed me to do this great job.

Condolences to Sandy's family and RIP.

I , like many others have fond memories of Sandy, he certainly made the ATPL and Perf "A" seem effortless compared to some of his contemporaries.

Will always remember his taste for Chenin Blanc down at the OAK and latterly the OLD MILL.

My condolences to Betty and the rest of the family.

A True Gentleman.

This Earth will be a sadder place with his "Departure".

Rest in Peace mate.

Sandy helped me through perf A and other subjects almost 20 years ago, I have never found a better ground instructor anywhere, and I probably never will.

Sad News
 

Very sorry to hear of Sandys death.

It has to be said that the guy was a genius, how he was able to recall in such intricate detail the finer points of JAR ops and airlaw I will never know. It's sad to say it but chaps like sandy are becoming a rare breed I cant imagine any of the new generation guys having the encyclopedic knowledge of Mr Thompson. (He even knew what colour the door was at ICAO head offices!)

Even during the complete mess that was the beggining of the JAR ATPL ground exams Sandy quietly soldiered on and got us the results we needed.

Always remember the unique way he used to tell stories about accidents and his dry witt "of course they all died you know".

A true Gent:ok:

Sandy Thomson
 

I am very sad to learn of Sandy's passing. Sandy was, and still is to me, a legend.

I had been out of full-time education for 20 years when I went to ATA, and Sandy (together with Danny, Pete L and Pete Q) was responsible for getting me through the whole ATPL syllabus with first-time passes in all subjects, thus minimising my hair loss!

Rarely have I met anyone with such endearing qualities as Sandy. As a person, he was a true gent and possessed a fantastic sense of humour. Sandy was highly intelligent, with the rare ability to pass on that knowledge in a meaningful way to absolute numptys like me. He was also unassuming and, with his natural humility, was able to relate and communicate effectively to people of all backgrounds and nationalities.

The world of aviation will be far worse off without Sandy. He will be sorely missed. I count myself as one of the privileged many to have known and been taught by him. In all respects, he was a great man.

I hope that his wife and family find some comfort in the fact that Sandy was admired by so many, both as a person and as a teacher. Pilots throughout the world will be rocked by the news of his passing, but our warmest wishes will be with his family and we thank them for allowing him to continue to benefit us well past the age when most people would have stopped working.

God bless, Sandy.

Part of Aviation has died.

Sandy - what an incredible man.
I first met Sandy in 1990 at White Waltham where I was doing an AFI course with Hamish Ross. Sandy was the life and soul of the clubhouse - particularly early/mid evening when he would decant from his Commercial groundschool with his students.

I subsequently called on Sandy`s professional services at Coventry a few years later - his patience and fortitude at dealing with my lack of wisdom - in both Perf A and some ATPL subjects - was truly magnificent... I owe Sandy so very much... as he used to say, "it`s easy when you know how.."

An absolute gentleman who gave so much, to so many, so often.

What a legend.
Aviation is going to miss the big fella. The Old Mill will miss him too.
He lives on in all of us who have fond memories of him and his teachings will be passed on to others.
Condolences to Sandy's family and to his colleagues at ATA. :(

I first met Sandy in WW in 1990. He explained that if I reduced my consumption of Guinness from a dozen a night down to a mere gallon I might be able to stay awake during Perf A.

Some years later I was one of a troop that Pete and he dragged through our ATPLs at ATA. I owe many people a great deal in helping me at various stages of my career, none more so than Sandy.

Alexander, enjoy that large portion of Singapore noodles in the sky.

"75%, well done no wasted effort......Good enough for Government work."

It has been a hard, hard year for good aviation people passing on - may they all rest in peace. All such good, sound people.