The Association has learned of the death of Lt(A) William John Brennen RNR on 5 October 2015. He leaves a widow, Carolyn, a son and two daughters.
Funeral Details
A family cremation will be followed by a memorial service at St Mary’s Church, West Chiltington, West Sussex at 1430 on 20 October 2015.
OBITUARY
BILL BRENNEN
1934 – 2015
The life Bill Brennen, who died on 5th October 2015, was a story of ambition determination and achievement. Joining the Navy to do his National Service changed his life as it did for so many.
He joined at HMS Daedalus as a naval airman second class on November 3rd 1952 with a view to becoming a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm no doubt having read one of the many Admiralty advertisements seeking aircrew and circulating in the National Press at that time. The Korean War was still on and it is reasonable to suppose that the Fleet Air Arm was seeking to ensure a steady flow of aircrew not knowing when a ceasefire would be achieved
Bill made steady and unhampered progress, passing the tests and examinations which would have been a constant in his life, through pre-flight training at HMS Siskin and flying training at RAF Syerston where he received his wings from Rear Admiral Caspar John son of the famous bohemian artist Augusts John.
Then came operational flying training on Seafire 17’s and Sea Fury FB11’s
Bill completed his National Service by going “to the deck” on HMS Illustrious , soon to be paid off, in October 1954.
By now it was obvious that Bill would make his career in aviation. It is not known whether he considered seeking a permanent commission in the navy. He continued flying with 1831 squadron part of the Northern Air Division at HMS Blackcap RNAS Stretton near his home town,Liverpool.
He stayed with the squadron until it was disbanded in January 1957. In the meantime he had converted to jets as the squadron was now equipped with the Supermarine Attacker which he flew as a member of the squadron’s aerobatic team. While with 1831 Bill accompanied a colleague on a early morning weather check in Vampire trainer. It had been raining heavily and on their return his colleague, who was the pilot, made an immaculate approach only to find when he put aircraft down he was aquaplaning and totally out of control. They ploughed through the boundary fence and finished up in a field having skidded across a main road narrowly missing a lorry. His colleague said that was enough flying for one day but Bill was in the air again that afternoon.
Bill was born inLiverpool. After leaving school he joined Cunard but National Service was soon to take him away from what would, almost certainly have been a successful career. Of course he was not to know then that he was rise to become the Senior Flight Manager of British Air Tours in the 70’s.
It was following this that he was to begin what was to become his career. He took his first commercial job with Manx Airlines and based in theIsle of Manflying the Dragon Rapide. It was here that he met Carolyn who was to become his wife and lifelong partner. Carolyn was one of the girls in the office of the Airline who took it in turns to act as hostess on the flights looking after eight or so passengers handing out drinks and sandwiches (probably homemade that morning) It was on a flight from Ronaldsway to Blackpool that Bill first set eyes on Carolyn. Arriving at Blackpool Bill suggested they headed into town and take in the amusements. They returned to theIsle of Manthat evening and on arrival Bill said he knew of an excellent coffee shop in Port Erin and invited Carolyn for a drink. By the time Bill returned her to her digs, her landlady, being concerned for her well being, had already called the airport police having seen the flight land. A surprise for Bill to be greeted by theIsland’s finest at the end of their first date! Not at all deterred five weeks later Bill proposed and they were to be married for fifty seven years (the anniversary was on the day before he died). It was a good marriage.
Bill was an intelligent and articulate man. Thirty years, before it was to become common practise and implemented within the airlines, he was writing papers on communication techniques to get the best of flight crews.
After his time with Manx and looking to further his career he applied to and was accepted by Trans Canada Airlines to fly their newly acquired Viscounts. His course started in the winter of 1957. At the same time Bill’s close friend, Dougie Croll, also fromLiverpool, a former member of 1831 and best man at Bill and Carolyn’s wedding, was now with British European Airways and about to do the Viscount course. He wrote to Bill and was surprised to get an urgent reply to call a number inSuffolk. As Dougie says “he had read my letter, was thoroughly miserable, missing Carolyn and finally looking out of the window at the “rain freezing on contact with the ground” he made one of his ”famous instantaneous decisions” packed his bags and came straight home”.
Bill joined BEA and so began his more than steady rise to the peak of his profession. BEA was to equip itself with the Comet.
Dougie says that it was then that he had a Maverick period “Maverick” being described in the Oxforddictionary as an unorthodox or independent person. Dougie says he was not exactly anti -authority but not pro either! One of his reports said “ this officer goes through life pushing at doors marked pull”
Bill now in the centre of things became, as a negotiator, a prominent member of the British Air Pilots’ Association, BALPA.
Management soon recognised his skills and potential and offered him the position of Assistant Flight Manager of the newly formed BEA Airtours company based at Gatwick to exploit the ever expanding holiday market. A shrewd move by BEA and a true case of”Poacher turned Gamekeeper”.
The company prospered and Bill became the Flight Manager of the renamed British Airtours. He remained with the company for many years flying Boeing 707’s and then Lockheed Tri-Stars before finishing his days at Heathrow Flying Boeing 747’s with British Airways.
Outside his profession he had many interests. He was a more than adequate golfer rising to captain his club, theWest Sussexat Pulborough. He was also invited to become a Senior which carries considerable prestige nationally in the Golfing World.
Following his retirement Bill and Carolyn used to take a house, from January to March every year, on theWestern CapeinSouth Africawhere their many friends were made more than welcome to spend time with them. They were members of the Clovelly Golf Club near Fishoek and were very much part of a like minded community of Brits and local residents.
Bill’s many other interests ranged from jazz to amateur dramatics. He was a life long supporter of Liverpool Football Club.
Above all he was a family man. He was the father to three children, John, following in his father’s footsteps, is a captain on 777’s with British Airways, Rebecca who has been successful in the property world and Clare who is a director of the French bank, Credit Agricole, inParis. Bill was grandfather to 8 grandchildren one of whom at the age of 11 is already on the books at Surrey Cricket Club and great-grandfather to Liam who was born earlier this year and was able to meet Bill before he died
Bill was justifiably a very proud man.
Lieutenant (A) William John Brennen RNR
The life Bill Brennen, who died on 5 October 2015, was a story of ambition determination and achievement. Joining the Navy to do his National Service changed his life as it did for so many.
He joined at HMS Daedalus as a naval airman second class on 3 November 1952 with a view to becoming a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm no doubt having read one of the many Admiralty advertisements seeking aircrew and circulating in the National Press at that time. The Korean War was still on and it is reasonable to suppose that the Fleet Air Arm was seeking to ensure a steady flow of aircrew not knowing when a ceasefire would be achieved.
Bill made steady and unhampered progress, passing the tests and examinations which would have been a constant in his life, through pre-flight training at HMS Siskin and flying training at RAF Syerston where he received his wings from Rear Admiral Caspar John son of the famous bohemian artist Augustos John.
Then came operational flying training on Seafire 17’s and Sea Fury FB11’s. He completed his National Service by going ‘to the deck’ on HMS Illustrious, soon to be paid off, in October 1954. By now it was obvious that Bill would make his career in aviation. It is not known whether he considered seeking a permanent commission in the navy. He continued flying with 1831 squadron part of the Northern Air Division at HMS Blackcap RNAS Stretton near his home town, Liverpool.
He stayed with the squadron until it was disbanded in January 1957. In the meantime he had converted to jets as the squadron was now equipped with the Supermarine Attacker which he flew as a member of the squadron’s aerobatic team. While with 1831 he accompanied a colleague on an early morning weather check in a Vampire trainer. It had been raining heavily and on their return his colleague, who was the pilot, made an immaculate approach only to find when he put aircraft down he was aquaplaning and totally out of control. They ploughed through the boundary fence and finished up in a field having skidded across a main road narrowly missing a lorry. His colleague said that was enough flying for one day but Bill was in the air again that afternoon.
Bill was born in Liverpool. After leaving school he joined Cunard but National Service was soon to take him away from what would, almost certainly have been a successful career. Of course he was not to know then that he was rise to become the Senior Flight Manager of British Air Tours in the 70’s.
It was following this that he was to begin what was to become his career. He took his first commercial job with Manx Airlines and based in the Isle of Man flying the Dragon Rapide. It was here that he met Carolyn who was to become his wife and lifelong partner. Carolyn was one of the girls in the office of the Airline who took it in turns to act as hostess on the flights looking after eight or so passengers handing out drinks and sandwiches (probably homemade that morning). It was on a flight from Ronaldsway to Blackpool that Bill first set eyes on Carolyn. Arriving at Blackpool he suggested they headed into town and take in the amusements. They returned to the Isle of Man that evening and on arrival Bill said he knew of an excellent coffee shop in Port Erin and invited Carolyn for a drink. By the time he returned her to her digs, her landlady, being concerned for her wellbeing, had already called the airport police having seen the flight land. A surprise for Bill to be greeted by the Island’s finest at the end of their first date! Not at all deterred five weeks later Bill proposed and they were to be married for fifty seven years (the anniversary was on the day before he died). It was a good marriage.
He was an intelligent and articulate man. Thirty years, before it was to become common practise and implemented within the airlines, he was writing papers on communication techniques to get the best of flight crews.
After his time with Manx and looking to further his career he applied to and was accepted by Trans Canada Airlines to fly their newly acquired
Viscounts. His course started in the winter of 1957. At the same time Bill’s close friend, Dougie Croll, also from Liverpool, a former member of 1831 and best man at Bill and Carolyn’s wedding, was now with British European Airways and about to do the Viscount course. He wrote to Bill and was surprised to get an urgent reply to call a number in Suffolk. As Dougie says,
“He had read my letter, was thoroughly miserable, missing Carolyn and finally looking out of the window at the rain freezing on contact with the ground, he made one of his famous instantaneous decisions packed his bags and came straight home.”
Bill joined BEA and so began his more than steady rise to the peak of his profession. BEA was to equip itself with the Comet.
Dougie says that it was then that he had a Maverick period. ‘Maverick’ being described in the Oxford dictionary as an unorthodox or independent person. Dougie says he was not exactly anti – authority but not pro either! One of his reports said,
“This officer goes through life pushing at doors marked pull.”
Bill now in the centre of things became, as a negotiator, a prominent member of the British Air Pilots’ Association, BALPA. Management soon recognised his skills and potential and offered him the position of Assistant Flight Manager of the newly formed BEA Airtours Company based at Gatwick to exploit the ever expanding holiday market. A shrewd move by BEA and a true case of ‘Poacher turned Gamekeeper.’
The company prospered and Bill became the Flight Manager of the renamed British Airtours. He remained with the company for many years flying Boeing 707’s and then Lockheed Tri-Stars before finishing his days at Heathrow Flying Boeing 747’s with British Airways.
Outside his profession he had many interests. He was a more than adequate golfer rising to captain his club, the West Sussex at Pulborough. He was also invited to become a Senior which carries considerable prestige nationally in the Golfing World.
Following his retirement Bill and Carolyn used to take a house, from January to March every year, on the Western Cape in South Africa where their many friends were made more than welcome to spend time with them. They were members of the Clovelly Golf Club near Fishoek and were very much part of a likeminded community of Brits and local residents.
Bill’s many other interests ranged from jazz to amateur dramatics. He was a lifelong supporter of Liverpool Football Club. Above all he was a family man. He was the father to three children, John, following in his father’s footsteps, is a captain on 777’s with British Airways, Rebecca who has been successful in the property world and Clare who is a director of the French bank, Credit Agricole, in Paris. He was grandfather to 8 grandchildren one of whom at the age of 11 is already on the books at Surrey Cricket Club and great-grandfather to Liam who was born earlier this year and was able to meet Bill before he died.