12 hours ago
Sunday, 8 September 2019
Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis DSO MBE CEng FRAeS RAF.
Well after my time, Wing-Co Wallis used to occasionally visit our mutual alma mater to give demonstrations of his infamous 'autogyro', flying over from his Norfolk home of Reymerston Hall.
Fans of the Bond films may remember Ken from the 1967 film 'You only live Twice', where he doubled for Sean Connery flying around in his rocket-firing mini 'copter.
Wallis was a true British hero, and dare I say it; a rather eccentric one.
I'd heard that he'd died, but I didn't know when. It was back in September 2013.
What a wonderful old gent'.
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He was well known in the skies around here. A much loved man in his autogyro.
ReplyDeleteQuite a character. I know that the boys at school loved his occasional visits.
DeleteThe world is a richer place because of the eccentrics of this life.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. There are still plenty around.
DeleteI am amazed he managed to keep up his licence for so long. We had a similar eccentric around here, but he specialised in high explosives, occasionally blowing huge holes in his lawn. A bad neighbour.
ReplyDeleteI used to make bombs when I was at school. I'm amazed we were never caught; the noise was enormous.
DeleteDo you remember the one I made at Farnham which almost killed a lady passing by whilst walking her poodle? That was heard as far away as Tilbury.
DeleteNo, not Tilbury. That is London dockland. it wasn't that loud. I mean the area with the clump of trees on the horizon.
DeleteSadly, I don't remember your bomb; but nothing would surprise me. You should have ignited it INDOORS, as a piece of Conceptual Art.
DeleteWhenever eccentric's are mentioned I think of the Welsh poet-priest R S Thomas who painted the inside of a church completely black. Deus Absconditus he'd say!
ReplyDeleteMy mother's cousin, Islwyn Ffowc-Elis, might have had something to say about that. Not very Presbyterian!
DeleteI'd have to be careful if I had to pronounce that splendid name especially after a pint or two! There used to be a certain Tudor who knocked about with my old man. I think they were drinking companions. A pity the first Queen Elizabeth had no progeny I often think.
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