William "Bill" Newman : Captain / Training Captain
It is with sadness we learn that Bill passed on 9th November 2023. Bill had a short battle with an aggressive cancer.My sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and former colleagues.
Bill Newman was a much loved husband to Selina, father to Christopher and Nina and grandfather to Harriet and William and baxter and Darcy.
Bill began his flying career in 1965 with a sponsorship by British United Airways at AST Perth. On leaving Perth his initial appointment was as a co pilot on the B170 fleet at Lydd Ferryfield airport in 1966. Shortly after he joined the Carvair fleet based in Southend Airport.
In 1970 he was posted to Gatwick to fly the BUA (soon to be Caledonian // BUA then BCal) BAC1-11 until 1975 when he spent several months in Long Beach California converting on to the DC10-30. Bill continued to fly this aircraft until he took his first command in 1980 on the BAC 1-11. This was followed by promotion to Training Captain in the early 80’s a role that he always enjoyed.
In 1987 he returned to long haul with a training position on the B747, eventually with British Airways. After retirement from BA Bill continued to maintain his interest in aviation and carrying out training and examining for numerous international airlines on both the B747 and the DC10, before being compelled to leave as both of these older aircraft become obsolete!
Service details
Bill had an unattended cremation on the 22nd of November 2023.
Bill's wake was held on 6th December at The Ansty Village Hall near Cuckfield. All friends and former colleagues of Bill were welcomed by the family.
Bill Remembered
From Roger Warren: RIP Bill
From Kerry Coles: R.I.P. Bill
From Lydia Oreegal: RIP
From Neil Gordon: Lovely man, and a pleasure to fly with.
From Riaz Butt: RIP Captain Bill Newman. My prayers for you and your family.
From Susie Douglas-Smith: My condolence to his family and friends
From Bernice Priestnall: Sincere condolences.
From Jim Will: RIP Captain Newman
From Derek Jenkins: RIP Captain, fly high and safe
From Caron Phillips: RIP Bill and my sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Michael Joyce: RIP Bill
From Pat Gough: RIP Bill and condolences to his family.
From Mike Jeffs: My heart felt condolences to the family on the loss of Bill. RIP
From Jim Wilson: A privilege to have known and flown with you. RIP
From Chris Scott
Shocked and saddened to learn of Bill's sudden and premature death. I can only offer condolences to his wife and family. What a lovely bloke.
Bill was a BUA cadet at AST Perth in 1965/6, on a CPL/IR course about six months ahead of my own. I was immediately struck by his warm and sunny personality. After Perth, we flew as co-pilots at different bases until the lead-up to BUA being taken over by Caledonian in 1970. Being fellow co-pilots and on different fleets, we never flew together but met occasionally in crew rooms. Always a pleasure.
For a short spell in the early 1980s, we were fellow skippers on the One Eleven fleet and he soon became a popular training captain, but in later years we were once again on different fleets. Such is the airline world. Fly high, Bill...
From Ian Corby: Always pleasure to fly with Bill! My sincere condolences to his family. RIP Bill
From Barry Lloyd: Sorry to hear this, as a Klingon he looked me really well, condolences to his family
From Jerry Ball
How sad to hear of Bill's passing so soon after my Dad's (Vic Ball); they flew together on BCAL DC10s. Bill was with my Dad in Long Beach & Tucson when BCAL first bought the DC10s. I used to see Bill when I worked in a shop in Haywards Heath & we would chat about BCAL. My condolences to all Bill's family.
From John Fairclough: My thoughts are with Bill's lovely family. We all go back such a long time. So many memories
From Avril Milne
I was very saddened indeed to hear the sad news regarding Bill. He was always so jolly to fly with and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. My condolences to Selina and family.
From Phil Taylor
So sad to hear about recent, premature death. My heartfelt wishes to Selina and his family. A great person and always a pleasure to work alongside him. RIP Bill.
From Mark Carpenter
So sad at the sudden passing of Bill - a lovely and respected colleague as well as a very good friend. His contribution to the careers of many of our fellow pilots as well as to his close knit family will live long. RIP Bill
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Nick Ridley, Biddi Geoghegan, Bob Hewitt, Susie Douglas-Smith, Riaz Butt, Tina Harvey, Denise Stevens, Lindsay Smith, Christine Jegu, Terry de la Haye, Mel Sanders, Sylvia Murphy, Nick Washington-Jones, Elaine Brown, Roger Brown, Sally Simmonds, Anthony Cowan, Jennifer Grail, Elia Pacilio, Maria Shaw, Susan Buckley, Jenny Thomas, Stella Bassett, Aviateam Aviateam, Liz Tiley, Graham Waters,
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