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Post by viscount on Sept 29, 2019 10:24:04 GMT 1
Former members of the Merseyside Group of Aviation Enthusiast and the Merseyside Society of Aviation Enthusiasts in the 1950s and early 1960s will be saddened by news of the death of Don Stephens. A founder member of the MGAE in 1956, a great aviation enthusiast in his youth around not just Liverpool, but Burtonwood, Ringway and beyond. It was Don who in 1963 mounted a successful campaign to preserve a Mosquito aircraft at Liverpool Airport (qv TA634 thread). Don kept a keen but passive interest in aircraft throughout his life.
I first met Don when I was a 12 year old through a Church group. He encouraged my early lack of skill in aircraft recognition, nurtured my interest with a monthly look at his Air Britain 'Digest', and indeed took me and a few friends to our first 'proper' air show (discounting the 1960s Liverpool Air Displays), which was the Battle of Britain Air Display at RAF Tern Hill in 1965. I last met up with him a few months before I moved to Spain and spent several hours looking though his log books and photographs from the 1950s. Our final communications were only a month ago on the loss of my wife.
It seems he went peacefully Friday 27th September in the early evening, taking an afternoon nap and didn't wake up, although he had been unwell for a while now and losing weight.
Don will be sadly missed by all who came across him. Our thoughts are with wife Hazel and their daughter.
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Post by vanguard on Sept 29, 2019 12:44:47 GMT 1
Don Stephens RIP,
I first met Don at secondary school as he was one of my teachers there,in school we had to call him "SIR", at the MGAE it was Don but i never got used to calling Don for quite a long time,that is quite a few years ago now though.
Like Brian (viscount) i also became more interested in aircraft/aviation with Dons help, although i had a bit of an edge as where i lived at the time and a for few years afterwards was overlooking the old terminal and airport,that was in the 60's though.
Yes it is a very sad time for his family my condolences and thoughts to his wife and daughter.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2019 20:19:48 GMT 1
Very sad to hear of Don's passing. I well remember him from our MGAE forays into Europe in the 1960s and his unstinting contributions to MGAE. He was one of the 'gang of four' with Peter Schofield, Keith Crowden and Phil Butler, who formed and held the group together in the early days.
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Post by maverick on Oct 1, 2019 11:46:59 GMT 1
Indeed, very sad. I knew Don very well and loved working with him on various projects for the FoLA 09/27 Newsletter. He was instrumental in the foundation of the MGAE and therefore 'Spotting' on Merseyside. He was also the founder of 'Wrecks and Relics' later taken on by Ken Ellis, and as mentioned above, almost single handedly brought the Mosquito to Speke. RIP Don. Sincere condolences to Hazel and family.
(Not heard of the funeral arrangements yet, if any hears could they post here?)
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Post by viscount on Oct 1, 2019 17:08:36 GMT 1
It has been passed onto me that Don's funeral is a week on Thursday (the 10th) with the burial at 2pm at Allerton Cem. (Presumably just family?)
This will be followed by a service of thanks giving and celebration of his life at Bridge Chapel at 2.30 with light refreshments.
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Post by Ant on Oct 10, 2019 21:36:31 GMT 1
As a further tribute to Don, his enthusiasm within the Viscount Preservation Trust when G-ALWF returned to Speke in the mid seventies, should also be remembered,
My condolences also,
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Post by ronturner on Oct 11, 2019 6:22:35 GMT 1
I too, remember him with fond memories of those times. I think I am right in saying that Don was one of those immortalized in the “stained glass” window in hangar 50.
I am glad to learn he was a teacher, a fitting career for the person I remember.
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Post by maverick on Oct 11, 2019 8:56:32 GMT 1
Don was laid to rest yesterday at Allerton Cemetery.
A very well attended service of Thanksgiving was held afterwards at Bridge Chapel.
It was a fitting tribute to his life and works as a father, husband, Christian, teacher, academic, aviation enthusiast and all round decent human being.
In recognition of his lifelong interest in aviation the service was very well attended by the 'great and good' of the enthusiasts' aviation scene at Liverpool including many who had travelled considerable distance to pay homage despite their advancing years.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2019 14:21:35 GMT 1
Thanks for that Maverick. Totally agree with your comments and pleased to hear that there was a good turnout. Could you PM me with a few names of those who were there please - thanks.
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Post by vanguard on Oct 11, 2019 15:03:50 GMT 1
I to totally agree with you garstonboy,i was at the Thanksgiven for Don along with some members of the MGAE,
we're all becoming the few but what memories their priceless,RIP Don or should i say SIR as he was a teacher.
Frank aka Vanguard.
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