A Sad Day

[Mayfly]

It is with much sadness that I post the following on behalf of DT:-

Dear All,

I am saddened to inform you that with effect from today I am no longer your Chief Pilot as I have resigned from the project. This ends my 44 year association with 558. I wish to thank you all for your unstinting support & trust you placed in me & the commitment you to have given to the project. I am well aware that without you, all her fans & supporters, the project would have failed long ago.

David




I am devastated that David has taken this decision but I fully support & understand his reasons. No-one but me is aware of the hours he has dedicated to the project as most of it was done quietly behind the scenes and at the expense of our personal & social life, with most being carried out in the evenings & at weekends until the small hours of the mornings.
David leaving is one the reasons that I have withdrawn from the TVOC forum over the last 3 months as I find it very painfully knowing the next display season will be a huge change for me.

I am sure you understand when I say I have been in the very privileged position not only seeing 558 fly this year but to know that it was my husband at the controls, In a way I have been totally spoilt, to see 558 fly knowing he isn't in the cockpit does not hold the same magic for me.

I am well aware that if it wasn't for David 558 would not have made half on the venues she did this year simply because last minute decisions meant other pilots were not available, hence the reason he has flown 22 out of 26 sorties since first flight. He did it to ensure that you got to see her on as many occasions as possible.

So from the bottom of my heart I say 'Thank you David' for your unselfish & unstinting devotion you have shown over the last 15 years and for the very very large part you have played in returning 558 to flight (I know it would have been much, much harder without your knowledge & expertise.)..

the end of an era…………………

A broken hearted & inconsolable
Pam

[RLN]

Open letter to D. Thomas esq.
Sir,
I have never had the privilege of meeting you, but thanks to the information posted by your wife I feel as though I have met the Chief Pilot of 558. I would like to thank you for all the hours and personal sacrifice that you have put into ensuring that thousands of us have seen 558 over the last year, and I fully understand that it must have been a very difficult decision to resign from something that has been a big part of both your and your family's life for so long. Hopefully, you will be able to attend an airshow next season at which 558 flies, and I hope to meet you then. For now, sir, I would like to wish you all the best for the future, and thankyou from the bottom of my heart.
Martyn

[Wedgy]

Pam,

I don't think I need to say anything for now ..... will let the banner do the talking for the moment.

[Prometheus]

Thank you DT for all you have done for the project and making so many people happy by making their dreams a reality. Thank you too Pam for sharing such a wonderful man with us and letting him out to play
Im gutted but fully understand the reasons why DT has resigned.

[Wizzy]

Devastated. For me as with so many people, DT and 558 are inseparable.

The current banners says it all.

Many thanks Pam for sharing your husband with us over the years, and for all that you yourself have done for the forum members.

Tim

[Stevieboy]

Pam,

Please accept my personal thanks to both DT and yourself for your sacrifices, hard work and commitment over the years.

Hope that I still continue to bump in to both of you from time to time. Next time I'll save you some chips.

All the best

Stephen

[Hungry Haggis]

It has to be Pam that we thank for supporting DT and allowing him to share his valuable time with the great unwashed ( us the public) .Many words may be writen soon but the ones that will echo over and over .Are Thank you DT for the dedication to the project and also for showing 558 in the air to so many.

[MrTim]

That banner is a really nice tribute to a wonderful person. And DT wasn't bad either...

[Mayfly]

awwwwwww thanks guys, I must admit to feeling a wee bit emotional & & overwhelmed by all the lovely comments.......THANK YOU

The banner is beautiful & very touching & I have a sneaking suspicion who is responsible for it, so special hugs for them......

[Dan4th]

Ye Loverly Lady Pamela:

There's absolutely NO WAY I can add to what's been said above other
than to just say "ME,TOO!"

The wind has turned another page, as it will do from time to time...

For that reason, I can't be all that sad -- just Curious!

Curious to see what's on the NEXT page once you and DT have written it!

May your new page be crammed full of Wonderful, Exciting Things!

Just watch your spelling and punctuation.....

Dan4th

[Mayfly]

Ye Loverly Lady Pamela:

There's absolutely NO WAY I can add to what's been said above other
than to just say "ME,TOO!"

The wind has turned another page, as it will do from time to time...

For that reason, I can't be all that sad -- just Curious!

Curious to see what's on the NEXT page once you and DT have written it!

May your new page be crammed full of Wonderful, Exciting Things!

Just watch your spelling and punctuation.....

Dan4th

Oh dear that doesn't bode well for me

but thank you kind sir

[Mackrick]

What can I say..
Pam you and DT know I how I feel .....
Thank you for making an old Techie smile again.

[Pujgnie]

Gutted that David has resigned... but fully understand the reasoning behind it. I'm sure he struggled for many weeks possibly months before reaching this decision.

Pam - please pass on my respects and thanks to him for all he has done in bringing 558 back to us this year. The man deserves a medal . I never got to meet him personally - and now I never will. He is as iconic as 558 herself. I wish you both good luck for the future and a bit more 'normality' back into your lives.

Re the Banner - Very apt and a great tribute to whoever is responsible.

[Hunter0f2]

David !! Thank you so much for all you have done, & may I wish you Good Luck for the Future..... 558 is Going to Miss you.....

[Mackrick]

[Mayfly]

gosh doesn't he look sad ..........

[Mackrick]

Tired me thinks MF..
At Waddo...

[Mayfly]

yeah I thought it was, & he was knackered, another circumstance of going beyond the call too ensure she got to display at Waddington - PtoF issued 1.20mins before he got his his DA no time to practice to see what she could do without using excessive FI or 'G'.....

[Saracenman]

true professional - CLEARLY!

[Dee]

So sad that Dt has called it a day, and so sad for you too Pam.
Thans so much DT for all youve done with and for 558.
And thanks Pam to you too.
Take care both of you xx

[MadNaddy]

It's been a few hours since I first read your post Pam, so it's had time to sink in a little.

There's no way on earth IMHO that this project would have been at the stage it is at now without both of you involved. DT's knowledge and expertise has proven to be invaluable over the years to getting 558 back in the air, never mind in the years preceeding this. It's been frustrating for us this past year alone - so the past 15 years for you and DT we can only imagine how they must have been!! ( )

I agree with everyone DT is 558/558 is DT! Cluny could even tell who was flying 558 for goodness sake!!

The photo we had taken at Waddo Pam with you.... Cameron shows it EVERYONE! "Thats PAM, THE Vulcan pilots wife!!!" He's so proud to know you, and Worships both you and DT He was so Tongue tied and in awe just to be stood feet away from DT, and when he signed his t-shirt at Wellesbourne - well that was just out of this world!

We have lots of memories just from 1 year - and I personally am pleased to have you in our lives. Hopefully one day you'll feel up to seeing 558 being flown by someone else Pam..... and we'll see you there




Til then - I'm sure we'll keep you occupied on here

[Pujgnie]

This one is for you both... I know you have all seen it before, but by far the best and most meaningful tribute to DT and 558 :

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qHHStin7q8A

[Nickolas]

Pam,

Gutted, devastated, upset...........................you have heard all the adjectives on this and the TVOC forum.

Words really do fail me on this occasion. However,

Thanks Pam, thanks for allowing David to spend the immense amount of time to see our dream come true.
Thanks Pam, thanks for keeping David in such good health so that he had the stamina to see the project through (especially that frantic few days in July)..............

Thanks Pam. From the bottom of my Heart.

Nickolas
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Wedgy]

By request, here's a photo of the couple we will be forever indebted to!




To quote SM directly "behind every great man is a great woman"

[Dan4th]

"Behind every great man there is a great woman........"

Picking the lint off his sweater....

Dan4th