| Stephen Lark | Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:07:29 |
| Very sad news. | |
| Leo Brome | Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 20:13:14 |
| Stan taught me to fly in Austers. A few years after getting my licence I bought an Auster G-AJUL which Stan used for some of his crazy flying displays. I always found Stan very helpful, very positive and a comfortable instructer. We kept in touch over the years and he should be very proud of his achievements for aviation | |
| Rowland Carson | Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 00:21:44 |
| I have many happy memories of Stan, both beside me in the air, and on many social occasions. Every flight instructor commands respect, but this was specially true of Stan. Not only was he a very skilled pilot - he could also impart his skill to others. He was in every sense a gentleman. I am proud to have his name in my logbook, and to have counted him as a friend. I am sorry that prior commitments here in Cheltenham prevent my attendance at the funeral. | |
| Anthony Preston | Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 08:08:06 |
| Even the name has an air of the dashing about it. When, back in 1954, at the age of 16, I started flying lessons on Auster and Tiger at Nacton Airport, Ipswich, I couldn’t fail to be impressed by the man. It wasn’t just the bristling Royal Air Force moustache or the wavy, heavily brilliantined hair that stamped him: Chief Flying Instructor. It was also the clipped voice, delicate artist’s hands and infectious laugh. Above all it was his love of flying coupled with consummate skill. I dare say he thought himself one of the best. No one who saw Stan’s crazy flying displays in Auster could question this belief. Weren’t we fortunate that here was that most unusual combination of extreme skill and the ability to convey it. After many instructional hours inspiring pilots in the Air Force Stan had me as his first ab initio civil student. He sent me solo in Auster Autocrat G-AGXP on my 17th birthday. It was the biggest moment of my life. Although we may immortalise him alongside Pashley, C Nepean Bishop and Wg Cdr Arthur, he was different. To understand how you need to read his autobiographical Tales Out of Flying School. But even this falls short of revealing the sheer love of flying that defined the man. At the end of his wartime service in the Royal Air Force Stan, I think, worked in a drawing office where neat hand and sense of precision were honed. At the Ipswich Flying Club vector lines and triangles of velocity were drawn with pinpoint accuracy; arrow heads like mini isosceles triangles. Before an aerobatic detail in Tiger, Stan, legs apart, would run through the manoeuvres on the ground, hands together, thumbs interlinked like two low aspect ratio wings. So absorbed in the loop he would tilt way over backwards, totally unruffled if one foot had to dart back to restore equilibrium. You knew this cool would be just as much in evidence in the air. When later in life he was prevented from flying by a heart problem it was entirely understandable that Stan Ward, aviator extraordinary, wings clipped, rejected the role of spectator. It would be nice to think that on his headstone you might read "Gone Flying". He could show them angels high a thing or two. We who flew with you, Stan Ward, owe you a huge debt of gratitude. | |
| Richard Atkins | Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 23:56:40 |
| I first met Stan in 1955 when my father moved to Ipswich to become Station Engineer for East Anglian Flying Services. I was only 9 at the time and was given a joyflight in G-AGXP by Stan in May of that year. After only 6 months my father was offered to job of Chief engineer and we moved to Southend. In 1964 at the age of 18 I retuned to Ipswich to commence training for a PPL with both Stan and Jack Pickerell being my instructors. Stan sent me off solo on the 9th August 1964. Unfortunately Stan moved on shortly afterwards and Wing Commander Pickford took over as CFI the rest of my training was achieved with his help. However after Pick decided to move on Stan returned as CFI. I have many happy memories of Stan who was an extremely competant instructor with a tremendous sense of humour. I can see him now running around in his wooly hat always smiling. During my very early training I always felt totally safe and secure when Stan was sitting in the right-hand seat. Unfortunately I cannot make the funeral but I am so glad I had the pleasure of meeting him again at an Ipswich Airport reunion a couple of years ago. He spark was still there! | |
| mark norman | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 07:36:58 |
| remember stanley when iwas working for laurie usher at airport lovely man sadly missed | |
| Gregory Orton | Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 13:02:58 |
| I worked part time at Ipswich Airport in the 1960's and remenber Stan very well, in particular the crazy flying routine, the wooley hat and his infinite patience when he once tried to teach me the basic rudiments of navigation. Whenever i think of my time there his is always the first name that comes to mind. So sorry to hear of his passing. | |
| Steve Rogers | Monday, January 11, 2010 at 22:52:15 |
| I was lucky to fly with Stan, if only briefly, in the 1970's. In the years since - most of which have been full time in aviation - I have never met another Stan. He was, indeed, one of a kind... Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunwards I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a thousand things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air, Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace, Where never lark, or even eagle, flew; And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of god. | |