Paddy Waring died on 23 January.
He joined the Navy in 1954 as a Special Entry Cadet. He served as a Midshipman in HMS Newcastle in the Far East, then as a A/S/Lt in HMS Comus where he was the first member of our term to be placed under close arrest by order of his CO (Cdr J Bartosik DSC RN)
After Sub Lts courses he obtained his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in HMS HOUND, then specialised as a pilot, joining 82 Course at No 1 FTS flying Piston Provosts and Vampires and obtaining his wings in 1960.
Going on to OFS at RNAS Lossiemouth he qualified as a Scimitar pilot, and flew in 803 Sqn (HMS VIctorious),750 Sqn (Sea Princes) RNAS Hal Far, and 800B (HMS Eagle) During this period in 1965 while diverting to RAF Changi on one engine the controls froze at 100 ft from touchdown. He ejected after one bounce, landing close to his inverted and burning aircraft on the runway, apparently unhurt, and was fit to fly again after 2 weeks.
However he decided to leave the RN in 1966, becoming a commercial pilot flying VC10s with East African Airways and Gulf.
11 years later in 1977, without warning, his back failed him and he became a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After a long battle with the MOD he was eventually granted a 100% War Disability Pension.
He lived in Hampshire for the rest of his life, playing a significant part with various medical organisations and charities. He remained an independent free spirit, running his own routine, and was the world’s greatest expert on any topic on which he was prepared to pontificate and argue for as long as you could stay the course.
He fell ill just before Christmas, telephoned or emailed his chums announcing that he had been given a week to live by the medics, and died in the hospice at Andover War Memorial Hospital on 23 January.
He will be buried in a brief informal ceremony on 14 February at Michael’s Wood Burial Ground, Cholderton, SP4 0DR, Anyone wishing to attend please phone or email Tim Goetz (details in Blue Book or FAAOA website) for further details.
Paddy asked for any donations in his memory to be given to the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, Andover.