Mike Keely : BCal Engineering
Sadly we have heard that Mike passed away in early January 2022. My sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and former colleagues.
Mike joined BCal as an apprentice airframe / engine engineer in September 1975 (M entry). Mike worked on real aeroplanes as he put it - the Boeing 707 and the BAC 1-11, as well as a little bit on the Air Malawi VC10 (7Q-YKH).
He transferred to British Airways in April 1988 when the merger happened, and rose to Engineering Shift Manager before retiring in 2016.
Photo - Mike in 2017
Mike joined BCal as an apprentice airframe / engine engineer in September 1975 (M entry). Mike worked on real aeroplanes as he put it - the Boeing 707 and the BAC 1-11, as well as a little bit on the Air Malawi VC10 (7Q-YKH).
He transferred to British Airways in April 1988 when the merger happened, and rose to Engineering Shift Manager before retiring in 2016.
Photo - Mike in 2017
Service details
To be added when known
To be added when known
Mike Remembered
From Roger Creasey
I remember Mike as one of our apprentices working with us on the B707 and VC10 aircraft, he went on to become a qualified engineer and rose up through the ranks. I spent the last few years at BA in the support office sitting alongside Mike he actually was the first person to show me that photographs are not always what they seem, one morning he took a picture of Hangar 5 from the perimeter track the photo showed the hangar, concrete apron and a couple of DC10 aircraft, during lunch he fired up photoshop 6 on his computer and by the end of lunch the photo had changed, everything in front of the hangar the concrete and aircraft had been replaced by a field of green grass and a herd of cows.
Mike was also a very private person we only found out he had got married when we noticed he was wearing a wedding ring when we asked have you got married ? he just smiled and nodded yes. RIP Mike.
From Jim Street : Sad news, Mike was a good man.
From Roger Warren: RIP Mike
From Ray Astridge: Wow that's a shock. I was a fitter in hangar 1 when Mike started. Good times remembered. RIP Mike.
From Tony Rider: Sad News, RIP Mike, Fly High
From Riaz Butt: Sad news, RIP Mike. My thoughts and prayers for him and his family.
From Adrian Ball: Really sad news always a helpful friendly guy. RIP
From Sally Simmonds: So sorry to hear. RIP Mike.
From Caron Phillips: RIP and my condolences to his family and friends
From Ron Fuller: Sad news. Good company and great sense of humour, really nice man. RIP Mike
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free Mike
From Susie Douglas-Smith: My sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Brian Wassell: Sorry to hear the sad news R.I.P. Mike
From Geoffrey Lewis: Fly High Mike, what a shock
From Ma Dolors Vila Casellas
Sorry to hear the sad news about Mike...My condolences to his family and friends...RIP Mike.
From Jim Will: Such a shock, R.I.P Mike.
From Neil Titterrell
Sorry to hear about Mike. First time I worked with him was as a first year apprentice on the Bird Man of Bognor project in Buster’s project workshop. We had some challenges and laughs with that. Our paths crossed over the years ending up with Mike being my shift manager on the ramp. A good, fair man with a sense of humour. RIP Mike.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Janet Willis, Vinny Stuart Waymark, Victor Attwood, Susie Douglas-Smith, Jeremy Berridge, John Mason-White, Christine Jegu, Biddi Geoghegan, Danny Sheehan, Graham Waters, Sue Jackson-Page, Andy Hudson, Kris Massie, Paul Foster, Dave Surry, Peter Durran, Liz Rogers, Lindsay Smith, Julie Hourigan, Jim Street, Sylvia Murphy, Tina Harvey,
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From Roger Creasey
I remember Mike as one of our apprentices working with us on the B707 and VC10 aircraft, he went on to become a qualified engineer and rose up through the ranks. I spent the last few years at BA in the support office sitting alongside Mike he actually was the first person to show me that photographs are not always what they seem, one morning he took a picture of Hangar 5 from the perimeter track the photo showed the hangar, concrete apron and a couple of DC10 aircraft, during lunch he fired up photoshop 6 on his computer and by the end of lunch the photo had changed, everything in front of the hangar the concrete and aircraft had been replaced by a field of green grass and a herd of cows.
Mike was also a very private person we only found out he had got married when we noticed he was wearing a wedding ring when we asked have you got married ? he just smiled and nodded yes. RIP Mike.
From Jim Street : Sad news, Mike was a good man.
From Roger Warren: RIP Mike
From Ray Astridge: Wow that's a shock. I was a fitter in hangar 1 when Mike started. Good times remembered. RIP Mike.
From Tony Rider: Sad News, RIP Mike, Fly High
From Riaz Butt: Sad news, RIP Mike. My thoughts and prayers for him and his family.
From Adrian Ball: Really sad news always a helpful friendly guy. RIP
From Sally Simmonds: So sorry to hear. RIP Mike.
From Caron Phillips: RIP and my condolences to his family and friends
From Ron Fuller: Sad news. Good company and great sense of humour, really nice man. RIP Mike
From Fee Flee: So very sorry. Fly Free Mike
From Susie Douglas-Smith: My sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Brian Wassell: Sorry to hear the sad news R.I.P. Mike
From Geoffrey Lewis: Fly High Mike, what a shock
From Ma Dolors Vila Casellas
Sorry to hear the sad news about Mike...My condolences to his family and friends...RIP Mike.
From Jim Will: Such a shock, R.I.P Mike.
From Neil Titterrell
Sorry to hear about Mike. First time I worked with him was as a first year apprentice on the Bird Man of Bognor project in Buster’s project workshop. We had some challenges and laughs with that. Our paths crossed over the years ending up with Mike being my shift manager on the ramp. A good, fair man with a sense of humour. RIP Mike.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Janet Willis, Vinny Stuart Waymark, Victor Attwood, Susie Douglas-Smith, Jeremy Berridge, John Mason-White, Christine Jegu, Biddi Geoghegan, Danny Sheehan, Graham Waters, Sue Jackson-Page, Andy Hudson, Kris Massie, Paul Foster, Dave Surry, Peter Durran, Liz Rogers, Lindsay Smith, Julie Hourigan, Jim Street, Sylvia Murphy, Tina Harvey,
Close this page
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