Captain Chas Finn-Kelcey MBE
 

It is with huge sadness that I have to inform you that Captain Chas Finn-Kelcey (Britannia Airways aka whitehat) died at about 15:00 on April 1st 2004.

Chas was one if not the most generous person I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His enthusiasm for all things aviation, PPRune, life and people in general was second to none.

He was more than a colleague to me, he has been a personal friend for many years and I will miss him greatly.

My thoughts are with Di, family and all his friends.

Details of the funeral will be announced later.

Rest in Peace

Many will also remember, with great fondness, Chas at GatBashes ... under his PPRuNe title Dr Syn.

A true gentleman and one of those who lived life to the full.

Deepest sympathies to all his family and friends.

Oh no. Not Dr Syn.

What can I say? A helluva nice guy and damned unfair that the good guys go first.

When I first met Chas, I had no idea of his accomplishments in life and took him for what he was, a damned fine human being. He always was a WYSIWYG sort of chap, someone who gained immediate respect, simply because of the way he approached people.

I only met him and his lovely wife Di a few times, but I feel priveledged to have done so.

He is someone who will be sorely missed.

Condolences and deepest sympathy to family and friends.

I don't know him personally. I do recall him (with fondness) from PPRuNe and I'm sincerely saddened!

I'd like to pass my deepest condolences to Di and the rest of the family.

Chas was one of the longest serving PPRuNe members. I remember him first getting in touch with me over something controversial and from that time on I got to know him. He became a moderator when we set up the Britannia Airways Pilots Forum and was always ready with help and advice if it was needed.

Many of you will remember Chas from PPRuNe bashes and I don't think he missed any of them. His help to Don with the PPRuNe Fund was most appreciated.

My heart goes out to Di and she can be comforted by the fact that Chas will be missed by everyone who ever had the good fortune to meet him.

I only knew him from his contributing to the excellent STS Columbia thread. He posted some incredibly detailed analysis. Obviously a clever chap.

My condolences to all who knew him personally. :(

You can find some pics of the great man on the pages here and here.

He was a thoroughly top bloke and this is a very sad loss :{ , but we celebrate his life :ok: as I’m sure will all who knew him.

Chas was one of those genuinely nice people who make life so much fun... he'll be much missed and I for one will be raising a glass or three to him at the next bash!

My thoughts are with Di... also one of life's genuinely nice people!

...Mik

http://www.vampireparrot.com/albums/...chas.sized.jpg

What a sad day...:( He will be deeply missed.
Condolences to his family and friends.

There are many who will remember Chas from his RAF years. Humbly, on their behalf, I add my condolences.

David Berry - ex-RAF Lyneham

Many thanks to Chas and Di for the great bashes we had... I met Chas before I joined Britannia and we always talked about flying together some time so it is with great sadness but also with great pleasure that I remember our night flight to Corfu.

6 hours deep into the night we spent talking, laughing, looking at the stars and Mars, making plans to meet over the summer.

Good bye Chas, my thoughts going to Di and family.

When Chas came out of the RAF I gave him his first civilian job. He was an oustanding pilot and a great organiser. When I acquired a Twin Otter Chas volunteered to get it on the AOC and wrote the manual for it. 6 Weeks later the CAA were happy with his effort and the rest is history. His capacity for knowledge knew no bounds. He was an expert on many things, space, steam locomotion, flying, a superb artist and a very good muscian.

We grew to be great mates and so it went on. Families together.
Good times, fun times - always fun times and I admired him in every aspect of his life. He was a very generous man - to a fault usually - and Di simply was to him everything. I have been close to him, with Di and the family, over the past few horrendous days but I do have some little moments we shared that I shall treasure for evermore.

I wonder what I am going to do without Chas, how my life without his humour and friendship and counsel will suffer, but I know he would not like to think that I had such thoughts, so I will cherish his love and memories - but I will never get over losing my best friend.

RIP Chas x

Im better for having met him at the bashes.

So long Dr. Syn, You will be missed.

Wino

I met him only through these pages, but he was one of those I hoped I'd meet in person. Now alas that will not happen. My deep condolences to those left to mourn.

I knew Chas in Oman. Great guy, and I was talking about him only a week ago...
Condolences to his family and friends

We met Chas at the last two GatBashes. What an interesting gentleman, and what a couple he and Di were. We are all worse off after losing him. Deepest condolences to Di and the family. Please keep us posted with funeral arrangements.

With regrets

L and Mrs L

I had the honour and pleasure of meeting Chas at the GatBashes and always found him extremely generous. He and Di made everyone feel at home. What a terribly sad day - my love & best wishes are with the family.
A

I'm shocked & really saddened by this loss. My profound sympathy for Di.

I often think of the wonderfully fun dinner that he, Di, PPRuNe Pop, Jan, Pax D & I enjoyed.

I'm really sad & upset now.

I unfortunately never had the pleasure of meeting this great man, but his reputation preceded him and I have only ever heard colleagues and freinds speak so very highly of him. The overwhelming sentiment I always perceived in others is that he was indeed one of natures gentlemen. Condolences to family and freinds. A nice touch by Proon to close the jetblast forum for 24 as a mark of respect.

I first met Chas and Di at the 9 June 2001 bash - I remember that 10 June is Di's birthday, because at midnight he had us all sing "Happy Birthday" to her. That night, and later in PPRuNe chat, I remember chatting about the times he and Di had spent on holiday on Florida's Space Coast.

I really remember the wonderful dinner Tinny mentioned - Chas and Di, PPRuNe Pop and Mrs. PPRuNe Pop (Jan), and Tinny and myself celebrating Jan's birthday at Smith & Western on Box Hill. Another example of his wonderful generosity. I remember him talking about another of his interests - how he loved steam trains and supported their restoration.

Can't say it better than Danny did - Chas will be missed by everyone who ever had the good fortune to meet him.

Di and family - my thoughts are with you.

Jayne

A sad day indeed.

My thoughts are with Di and the family.

I too am shocked. What a wonderfully talented man and aviator. I had not seen him since Lyneham days in the late 70s when he had the whole Station in fits when the monthly mag came out with Chas's 'Rompers Green' comic strip therein.

Furthermore, his attitude to his training role on the C130 was exemplary; with him, training could be enjoyed.

Goodbye, Chas.

Ian Dow

A charming gentleman,

May he rest in peace and his family find comfort with him being mourned by so many.

Flowerx

There's nobody to fill his boots - he has left a huge impression on people's lives throughout aviation and in many other fields. He was a good friend to many, and will be sorely missed.

So long, Chas, sleep well. RIP.

Absolutely stunned. I remember him from my days at BY, what a throroughly nice chap he was. I don't ever recall a time when he wasn't politeness personified, which isn't easy at 03:00 on a Sunday morning!
Farewell Cpt Finn-Kelcey. May your family and friends find comfort in their memories of you.

What terribly sad news - he was one of lifes true gentlemen.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Rest In Peace, you will be deeply missed

Sagey

brockenspectre FYI

Chas suffered a severe heart attack on in the early hours of Monday morning followed closely by 2 more. Further complications included a collasped lung and internal bleeding. He passed away at St Thomas’s Hospital, London.

I will post the funeral arragements as soon as known.

Whoooosssshhh. That's what it feels like when I've taken a deep breath because my emotions have reached the limit and finally exhale. After I've been thinking about those who have just left us. Empathy may be our greatest achievement, or handicap, with regard to all the other life we share the Earth with. A few words:

Responsibilities, dreams and regrets
Life was full of these and more
The better place to which I go
To find release for evermore

If freedom is truly around the corner
I shall not know all I've left
For behind there would be a blank
A nothingness, perhaps evidence of theft

For what would be my new being
If I was aware of all the suffrance
That past love and affection still had relevance
What would one call such an existence?

If I am still near and fully aware
Then my sadness has no boundaries
For at least in life, I was there
And could help in life's quandaries

But if perchance I am reborn
A butterfly just out of my cocoon
And you stumble across my labours
Linger and witness something marvellous...don't leave too soon!

Flt Lt Chas Finn-Kelcey
 

I found out that Chas was ill yesterday and sent him a get well card - unfortunately he had probably passed away before he received it - buggar! I'm sure he wouldn't have minded and probably would have been amused at the irony.

I never got the chance to meet Chas - I was really looking forward to the opportunity, at the 30 Sqn reunion, and now alas, I will never get the chance.

He gave me much assistance in my application to join Britannia Airways, an application I've suspended for a little while, as I have decided to stay in the RAF a little longer. He was always willing to lend an ear and gave good and valid advice when required - it never seemed too much trouble for him to talk and write to me and others.

He will be sadly missed; he is still remembered on the Hercules, particularly but not exclusively for his cartoon 'Rompers Green', which he wrote for the Lyneham magazine. I was reading his cartoons the other day and it's amazing how accurate and true they still are (many a true word spoken in jest!).

My sincere condolences to Di, his family and all the friends and colleagues from Britannia, PPrune and the Airline industry, that had the privilege to know and work with him.

John Morrin

:( Terrible news... :(

I knew Chas rather well through both the 30 Sqn Association and, of course, the Pprune Bashes. Just a really, really nice guy - full of banter and tales to tell.

A real loss - thoughts with Di and family

:(

Chas was one of the most friendly and understanding guys I have ever met, he always had a friendly word for us all in Ops and understood the problems going through the department.

He also helped me no end as I went through medical problems, ironically with a cardiac problem. He would always ask how I was getting on and had suggestions on what tack to try. My problems are resolved now, and Chas was one of the first to congratulate me.

His help and words of support will always been remembered, a very sad day.

Please add my condolonces to the list...

Sorry to admit I didn't know who Chas was until someone posted his PPRUNE name.. :(

PW

I am stunned.

Chas was one of the nicest and most genuine people around.

It was Chas who helped greatly to nurture my passion for aviation, he aranged my first ever ride on the jump seat of an airliner, a 767 when I flew on Britannia as a passenger.

He always kept in touch, we spoke on the phone, and always had fun at the gatbashes.

He always took a genuine interest in my flying, studying, and life in general.

Chas was one of the most knowledgable people I have ever met, not just about aviation, but about life in general.

Now I too work for Britannia, and was supposed to fly as part of Chas's crew last week. When he didn't arrive at work they told me he'd gone sick...

Di, all my love and wishes are with you...

Tom P

Chas looked after his Cabin Crew: For many years he treated us with courtesy and respect, made us laugh and got us home safely to our families no matter what - I'm not sure you can ask for any more of a pilot.

Therefore, on behalf of all Britannia Cabin Crew, may I offer our thanks and condolences to his family. Flying just got a bit less fun.

I just found out. Di and your family, my sincerest condolences.
I am just stunned and truly saddened your loss. We lost a friend, you lost your soulmate.
My thoughts are with you.

Chaz was one of my students on the Varsities at RAF Oakington back in '72. He was always enthusiastic, cheerful and absorbed everything like a sponge, a delight to fly with. He went on to amuse all of Lyneham with his irreverent 'Rompers Green' cartoons in the Globe. My condolences to Di and family.

From all the Aussie blokes who had the pleasure of spending time with Chas in the flight deck and bar at Britannia we say goodbye.

Chas accepted each of us "antipodeans" as he would say. He loved his trips to Oz both before and with Britannia. He did'nt mind the odd drop of Aussie wine either.

Geez he loved to chat, but 99% of the time he exuded an incredible wealth of knowledge and zest for life. Who will forget his stories.

The 767 flight deck will miss Chas, and his laptop of course.

Condolences to Di and family.

Chas, the true English Gentleman.

The boys Down Under SALUTE you.