Andy was the Navigator in HMS UPTON when I was Guns, so we shared a cabin together.  Top bloke, with an infectious sense of schoolboy humour, always very happy to shake you at 3 in the morning when he came back from a run ashore! As a fellow Observer, I was delighted for him when he broke the mould and became FONA's first 'thinking man' Flag Lt.  He would have done really well had his life been not cut short.  RIP Andy

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Andy will be missed in May. I clearly remember him singing along to his 'Go West' cassette whilst bulling his shoes in the Blake Dorm. I don't miss his singing, but I really do miss him. Will raise a glass or two when we meet up.

I was at school with Adam, many memories, all good. He was a talented silversmith, I still wear the ring he made for me with his own hallmark. I was at the National Arboretum last week and found his name, it meant a lot and I wanted to find somewhere I could leave a memory of him, this is perfect. Andrew

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Adam and I shared a cabin at BRNC and went through 750 squadron together. He routinely visited our home for sunday dinner and gin (something of a theme here - looking at Jim's post). He was Godfather to my first born, Rose.

We shared a love of music - he a flautist and I a pianist and briefly did silly barbershop renditions through multi track while at Culdrose. He had an easy confidence - no arrogance at all. I am sure he would have risen to the highest ranks.

I named my son after him so that his name would continue. A wonderful young man, still sorely missed

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He was my closest and best friend.

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 I shared a house with Adam during our time as students on 702 Squadron. I was embarked in Engadine when Adam and his pilot, Tony Davies ditched on that dark night in the Bay of Biscay.
I still recall with a smile the sight of Adam with a gin in one hand, cigarette in the other delivering his theories on life. I will remember him always.

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Darren was Cunningham Divsion enior Sub Lt for a while in our Summer term before we went on t flying training. He was a great bloke - very supportive and full of sardonic wit.

I do rememeber, however, recall being awakened to Art of Noise "Peter Gunn" featuring Duane Eddy every morming for weeks.

An excellent man.  

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Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman of the Fleet Air Arm

Tribute

Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman, Royal Navy, was the Commanding Officer of 847 Naval Air Squadron based at Yeovilton. He was aged 40, and was married with three children. Having worked his way up through the ranks from Able Seaman, Darren assumed command of 847 Naval Air Squadron in December 2005, having previously served as a staff officer within the Joint Helicopter Command. Recently qualified on the Lynx Mk7, he had extensive experience as a helicopter pilot and was a Qualified Helicopter Instructor and Helicopter Warfare Instructor. Most of his flying experience was on the Sea King Mk4 Commando helicopter and he had served with the Commando Helicopter Force squadrons and on exchange with the United States Marine Corps. He had extensive operational experience, serving as a Sea King pilot in the first Gulf campaign in 1991, on operations in the Balkans during the mid-1990s, returning to Iraq for Operation Telic in 2003; he had recently arrived back in Iraq for this latest deployment. He had also served as the Senior Pilot of 845 Naval Air Squadron in 2001. Colonel John McCardle Royal Marines, Commanding Officer of the Commando Helicopter Force, said of him: "Darren was a consummate professional and was highly regarded by all of his Squadron personnel and also within the broader helicopter community. A larger than life character, he had a tremendous ability to make people laugh and could communicate easily with those in his charge, regardless of rank. Our thoughts are with his adored wife Liz and his beloved children Chloe, Ben and Georgina." The family of Lieutenant Commander Chapman have issued the following statement: "We are deeply shocked and devastated at the untimely and tragic loss of Darren. He was a fantastic father, husband, son and friend who was deeply committed to family life; always there for those who needed him, nothing was ever too much trouble. "Outgoing, gregarious and always joking, he was the consummate entertainer who touched and enriched many peoples’ lives. Equally committed to his life as an Officer in the Fleet Air Arm, he adored flying in the Service and we can rest assured that he died doing the job that he so loved. "Our thanks go to all for the kind thoughts and messages we have received and we would ask that our family’s privacy is respected to allow us time to grieve."

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I got to know Andy pretty well over the years, especially after he became a barrister.  He would have loved to rejoin the RN but, typically, there were some arcane rules that prevented it so he opted instead for the RAF.  Even though he was only with them for a few short years I know he made a tremendous impact.  As Bill Woodley said in his eulogy at the funeral, a properly trained naval officer was always going to outclass the Crabs.  And he did.  He'd be an Air Marshal by now I imagine.

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A sad loss of a lovely bloke, he could always find the humour in any situation his intelligence and wit making him someone to just listen to and enjoy, especially when off on one of his favourite subjects!!! No names no pack drill!!

To this day I never play a game of golf without thinking of him, on coming to a Par 5 he would often helpfully advise --`Dont look on it as a challenge, think of it as an opportunity'



 

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Andy was indeed top drawer. I still listen to "Pete and Dud" and see his grin. I was more than gutted when I was working abroad and missed his funeral....cracked a bottle open to toast his memory. Still raise a glass to him now.

A very great friend.

Thank you Andy.

Jeremy Coughlan

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Dartmouth introduced me to some of my dearest friends . He was very much one of them. One of lifes good guys.

Bill was a Penzance man or to be more exact a Newlyn man I seem to recall.  Having lived down that way for a few years before joining up and coming under his wing he wondered if I knew his son?  At this stage I was the only new entry Cadet in the Division as the buses from the station hadn't arrived, so it was difficult to worm my way out of the conversation. He did however think it hillarious that I'd had fisticuffs with his son about 3 weeks before joining! A truly superb SNCO and a great influence on all who came within his purview.

I last saw Huw when on (very) boring courses in Whale Island. At the bar for a pre-dinner snifter and all of a sudden the whole mess shuddered as 2 Junglie Seakings flew low and fast overhead to land on the playing fields outside. Flash B*$%@£ds I thought and was then delighted as he bounced through the doors a few minutes later to turn the night from boring to rip roaringly fun.  What a guy.

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I shared a dorm with Huw in St Vincent Division. He was a 'great bloke' (as the Australians would describe him), with a superb sense of humour. He was one of the reasons why we had such a great camaraderie in the dorm - comrades and comics! Always helping each other and making jokes.

Behind his humour, he had a steely determination to become a helicopter pilot in the RN and travelled to the UK to do just that. He achieved his aim and more, becoming an excellent pilot.

Huw was a real character. I can still see him bulling his shoes, laughing and joking in the dorm as if it was yesterday. He is still sadly missed by all who knew him.

Tony was an amazing bloke, fun, outrageous and full of life.  A great cabin mate to have in Term 1 at BRNC who could really bring out the absurdities of new entry training and put it all in perspective, usually in a cheeky and irreverant way.  We did not stay in touch regularly after we went through specialist training but whenever we bumped into each other it was "Hail fellow, well met!" and his sense of fun and joy at the absurdities of life never seemed to diminish.  He was a force of life and is sadly missed by familiy and friends.

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Joined BRNC with 'Podders'. He was a fantastic guy whose memory I will treasure. He was always tremendous fun and lived life with a huge smile and positive attitude. At the last reunion he knew he was dying, but approached it in a brave and quite brilliant manner. It made a huge impression on us all, and we were determined that he should enjoy himself. He will be sadly missed at the next reunion - yet another sad loss During Tony's last summer in Cornwall he raised money by selling ice cream at the King Harry ferry. He would be there every day in a sufficiently flamboyant hat and trousers selling to all those around and making everyone day just that little bit brighter. The money he made all went to the newly opened 'Cove center' in Cornwall which provides for cancer sufferers and asked that any donations after would also go to the same good cause.

There are currently no tributes.

There are currently no tributes.