Obituaries JOHN LESLIE RICHARDSON (1925-2019) John was a former deputy chairman at BALPA in the 1960s. He was a captain at Britannia Airways for 20 years, before retiring in 1985. Born in Ipswich, and attending school in Glasgow, he joined the RAF aged 16 as an apprentice based in Halton, and graduated to flying school where he enjoyed many tours in Europe, the Far East and Africa, flying the Vampire jet, among other aircraft. Prior to Britannia, John flew for BWIA (British West Indian Airways) based out of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Here, he met his wife-to-be, Elsie (nee Beckett, 1929-2014) who, at the time, worked as a stewardess at BOAC. Mainly flying as captain on the Boeing 737, he converted to the 767 in the early 1980s. Flying was always John’s passion. He once hired the Luton Flying Club Piper Cherokee to collect son Paul who, as a 16 year old, was attending a glider training course at RAF Swanton Morley – a typical grand gesture appreciated by all. John retired in 1985 and went on to enjoy pursuits including sailing, fly fishing, relaxed travel and being an attentive and loving grandfather. John is survived by his sister Joyce; his three children Paul, Jane and Helen; grandchildren Rosie, Lillie, Joe and Nick, who is following in John’s footsteps as a pilot in the Army Air Corps; and great grandson, Teddy. John led a long, fulfilling, independent and active life, in spite of reduced mobility in recent years, and will be missed by all his family and friends who loved him. By Paul M Richardson, John’s son GRAHAM WRIGHT (1946-2019) I first met Graham when I transferred to Birmingham in the mid-1980s, where he was a neighbour, my BALPA rep, and a highly respected training captain. In his quiet, non-ostentatious way, he was a remarkable man and yet BEA very nearly didn’t get him. Graduating from Hamble could be a lottery, as the wildly varying pass rates will testify and, by his own admission, Graham survived ‘grey bracket’ winning the Vivien Trophy for determination and hard work in the process. His career took him onto the Vanguard, and from there to Airtours to fly the 707, taking a command on the Viscount before transferring to Birmingham on the BAC 1-11. It was then back to London to fly the 757 and 767, completing his career in 2001 on the Triple 7. Thanks to the people, British Airways, Birmingham, was a privileged place to work, and it suited Graham’s style perfectly. Besides chairing the local BALPA council, he was also the trusted and respected SESMA rep, where he interfaced between the company and crews when flights had strayed outside the normal operating envelope. It was a brilliant innovation, and only worked because both sides had confidence in the person chosen to fulfil the role. Many people will have fond memories of Graham. I won’t easily forget ‘one of those days’ with him when we arrived at Malaga in terrible weather, necessitating a diversion to Granada. Graham may have been as scared as I was, but he certainly didn’t show it. His confident, self-assured calmness and professionalism was appreciated by all concerned – especially me! Movie fans could easily form the view that, to be a successful airline captain, you need to be loud, authoritarian and cocky. I can think of no better example to disprove that theory than Graham, who was the antithesis of that and was liked and respected for it. A dedicated family man, Graham leaves behind his widow Ann; three boys William, Edward and George; and four young grandsons who have been denied the privilege of knowing what an exceptional grandad they had. By Ron Ball OBITUARIES