Captain David Vetch: BUA / BCal Flight Crew
David was a pilot with BUA and BCal. He died on 11 January 2026 from complications following a hip operation after a fall a few days earlier. David was 96 years old.
My sincere condolences to his family, friends and former colleagues
My sincere condolences to his family, friends and former colleagues
David Remembered
From Alastair Vetch (son)
Former BCal Captain David Vetch passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday 11 January. He had suffered a fall a few days earlier which had broken his hip and he developed complications post-surgery. The two great loves of his life in addition to his family were the Army and flying. Indeed, he left the Army in order to pursue a career in aviation. He qualified at AST flight training school in Perth before joining BUA as a Second Officer on Bristol Freighters, based at Southend.
A life-defining secondment to Jersey Airways followed where he met his wife, Eileen. He then returned to BUA which became BCal in 1970 when Caledonian Airways took over BUA. He held various managerial and senior flying posts mostly on 1-11 and the DC-10 fleet until 1987 when BCal were taken over by British Airways.
He served with the new airline for a further year until his career was cut short by a major heart attack in 1998. Throughout his retirement he kept up to date with all things aviation, keenly watching the skies above Gatwick and passing on help and advice to budding pilots. He is greatly missed by family and friends but very fondly remembered as a true gentleman, storyteller, bon viveur and consummate
From Karen Strawson - I flew with John often and he was very popular and a true gentleman.
From Lyn Elms - Captain Vetch one of our favourites another good BCAL man flying with angels RIP
From Pat Cresswell - A true Gentleman, RIP
From Caron Phillips - RIP Captain, and my sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Paul Read - A very fine gentleman!
From Tracey Washington-Jones
Fond memories of David. He starred in our BCal Personal View Brochure with my dad Jimmy, and I also flew with him as cabin crew. Condolences to the family
From Derek Jenkins - Sad news of the loss of another of our BCAL family, l remember him. Fly high and safe Captain.
From Fee Flee - So sorry. Fly Free
From Jim Will - Sad loss RIP captain Vetch, A true gentleman.
From Janet Willis - Rest Easy Sir
From Ray Henning
David was one of our flying instructors for the Mercury Flying Group. BUA and BCal’s unofficial flying club. Did a check flight with David on the Cessna 172 at Shoreham now Brighton City Airport. Thank you David RIP.
From Vanessa Ridgway van Perlstein - I remember him. Very sad news.
From Jacqui Wilson - He was a lovely Captain and a true gentleman, RIP.
From Valerie Armstrong - Such a lovely gentleman. Condolences to his family
From Biddi Geoghegan - Condolences to family and all his friends, a lovely man.
From Helen Dunn - Lovely man. True gentleman.
From Anne Lindup - RIP Sir. A very nice person.
From John Gould - I remember his name on the Ops Board all those years ago. RIP.
From Pauline Bowell
Very sad news indeed, such a lovely man. He was always so kind & really communicated so well with despatchers, which was so helpful and so rare. Fly high with the angels Captain
From Susie Douglas-Smith - Fly high, Captain. My sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Malcolm Terry - Great to fly with as at that time a brand new FO. And John, what a pair of gentlemen.
From Christina Selmes - Lovely man, sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Captain Vetch
From Graham Waters - R.I.P.
From Frances Taylor - R.I.P. Captain David Vetch. Sincere condolences to your family and friends.
From Ben May
A sad loss. We worked with his son in pax services, so condolences there too…anyone remember the inadvertent take off of a 1-11 after a high speed taxi test to rectify a nosewheel wobble? Only captain Vetch could have trimmed, flown, declared emergency, no fuel, quick circuit, emergency landing…and the engineers standing in the cabin weren’t too badly injured…wow, I’ll never forget that day!
From Cos Watt
So so sad David, like his brother John, was a true gentleman in every sense. I remember chatting to him at one of the BCal reunions. Always a joy when David was around. RIP
From David Collett - RIP David. A true gentleman. You will be greatly missed.
From David Eryl Anwyl Jones - R I P Dave
From Mike Jeffs - My sincere condolences, I worked and flew with Dave many times
From John Simpson
Dave was a good friend of mine all through the BUA/BCAL days. We had many good times and he was always good company to be around. Dave was a true gentleman and always had many interesting and funny stories to tell whenever we met up. My deep condolences go out to his family at this very sad time. R.I.P my friend.
From Brian Clarke - Condolences to family. A very nice man. RIP
From Tony Roberts
A very nice man, so polite on the phone when I would call him out to cover! Condolences to all his family! RIP David and fly high
From Diane Orme (Formerly Diane Isdale)
Such sad news. I shared an office with David for a couple of years when we worked together for Maurice Guinane (MD) & I accompanied them both on a few trips. I have some lovely memories of those days (early '70's). He was great fun to work with, a lovely man & a good friend. I had been wondering how he was doing. Very sorry to hear of his passing.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences were also extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Phil Benson, Fee Flee, Shaqui Le Vesconte, Nick Washington-Jones, Vanessa Ridgway van Perlstein, Jane Forrest,
Rani Kler, Geraldene Lambert, Alyson Potter, Susie Douglas-Smith, Jennifer Grail, Liz Tiley, Carol Boaks, Riaz Butt, Janice Belshaw, Wendy Loxley, Richard Friend, Jean Bagnell, Alan Reeves, Jane Marrion Higgins, Peter Beck, Pat Cresswell, Valerie Edwards,
Christine Jegu, Michael Rousseau, Bernice Priestnall, Peter Durran, Russell Driver, Roger Moore, Graham Lambert, Ray Bridgman,
Charlie Waring, Nick Ridley, Vanessa Holland, Victor Attwood, Bob Hewitt, Roger Brown, Frances Taylor, Paul Marshall, Sandra Currie,
Sue Jackson-Page, Elaine Brown, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Tricia Riley, Hilary Duckett, Caron Phillips, Sally Ann Beischer, Lindsay Smith, Sylvia Murphy, John Bailey, Mel Sanders, Susan Buckley, Dave Surry, Linda Trettin, John Nicholas, Andrea Aniello, Neil Gordon,
Linda Haynes, Helen Dunn, Graham Waters, Susie Gaskell, Monica Fidgeon, Richard Holland, Ian Newton, Brian Russell, Denise Stevens, Valerie Ann, Cos Watt, Madeliene Gibson, Walter Riggans, John Gould, Jacqui Byrne, John Mcsorley, Dudley Rice, Michael Phillips, Dorothy Flower,
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From Alastair Vetch (son)
Former BCal Captain David Vetch passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday 11 January. He had suffered a fall a few days earlier which had broken his hip and he developed complications post-surgery. The two great loves of his life in addition to his family were the Army and flying. Indeed, he left the Army in order to pursue a career in aviation. He qualified at AST flight training school in Perth before joining BUA as a Second Officer on Bristol Freighters, based at Southend.
A life-defining secondment to Jersey Airways followed where he met his wife, Eileen. He then returned to BUA which became BCal in 1970 when Caledonian Airways took over BUA. He held various managerial and senior flying posts mostly on 1-11 and the DC-10 fleet until 1987 when BCal were taken over by British Airways.
He served with the new airline for a further year until his career was cut short by a major heart attack in 1998. Throughout his retirement he kept up to date with all things aviation, keenly watching the skies above Gatwick and passing on help and advice to budding pilots. He is greatly missed by family and friends but very fondly remembered as a true gentleman, storyteller, bon viveur and consummate
From Karen Strawson - I flew with John often and he was very popular and a true gentleman.
From Lyn Elms - Captain Vetch one of our favourites another good BCAL man flying with angels RIP
From Pat Cresswell - A true Gentleman, RIP
From Caron Phillips - RIP Captain, and my sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Paul Read - A very fine gentleman!
From Tracey Washington-Jones
Fond memories of David. He starred in our BCal Personal View Brochure with my dad Jimmy, and I also flew with him as cabin crew. Condolences to the family
From Derek Jenkins - Sad news of the loss of another of our BCAL family, l remember him. Fly high and safe Captain.
From Fee Flee - So sorry. Fly Free
From Jim Will - Sad loss RIP captain Vetch, A true gentleman.
From Janet Willis - Rest Easy Sir
From Ray Henning
David was one of our flying instructors for the Mercury Flying Group. BUA and BCal’s unofficial flying club. Did a check flight with David on the Cessna 172 at Shoreham now Brighton City Airport. Thank you David RIP.
From Vanessa Ridgway van Perlstein - I remember him. Very sad news.
From Jacqui Wilson - He was a lovely Captain and a true gentleman, RIP.
From Valerie Armstrong - Such a lovely gentleman. Condolences to his family
From Biddi Geoghegan - Condolences to family and all his friends, a lovely man.
From Helen Dunn - Lovely man. True gentleman.
From Anne Lindup - RIP Sir. A very nice person.
From John Gould - I remember his name on the Ops Board all those years ago. RIP.
From Pauline Bowell
Very sad news indeed, such a lovely man. He was always so kind & really communicated so well with despatchers, which was so helpful and so rare. Fly high with the angels Captain
From Susie Douglas-Smith - Fly high, Captain. My sincere condolences to his family and friends
From Malcolm Terry - Great to fly with as at that time a brand new FO. And John, what a pair of gentlemen.
From Christina Selmes - Lovely man, sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Captain Vetch
From Graham Waters - R.I.P.
From Frances Taylor - R.I.P. Captain David Vetch. Sincere condolences to your family and friends.
From Ben May
A sad loss. We worked with his son in pax services, so condolences there too…anyone remember the inadvertent take off of a 1-11 after a high speed taxi test to rectify a nosewheel wobble? Only captain Vetch could have trimmed, flown, declared emergency, no fuel, quick circuit, emergency landing…and the engineers standing in the cabin weren’t too badly injured…wow, I’ll never forget that day!
From Cos Watt
So so sad David, like his brother John, was a true gentleman in every sense. I remember chatting to him at one of the BCal reunions. Always a joy when David was around. RIP
From David Collett - RIP David. A true gentleman. You will be greatly missed.
From David Eryl Anwyl Jones - R I P Dave
From Mike Jeffs - My sincere condolences, I worked and flew with Dave many times
From John Simpson
Dave was a good friend of mine all through the BUA/BCAL days. We had many good times and he was always good company to be around. Dave was a true gentleman and always had many interesting and funny stories to tell whenever we met up. My deep condolences go out to his family at this very sad time. R.I.P my friend.
From Brian Clarke - Condolences to family. A very nice man. RIP
From Tony Roberts
A very nice man, so polite on the phone when I would call him out to cover! Condolences to all his family! RIP David and fly high
From Diane Orme (Formerly Diane Isdale)
Such sad news. I shared an office with David for a couple of years when we worked together for Maurice Guinane (MD) & I accompanied them both on a few trips. I have some lovely memories of those days (early '70's). He was great fun to work with, a lovely man & a good friend. I had been wondering how he was doing. Very sorry to hear of his passing.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences were also extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Phil Benson, Fee Flee, Shaqui Le Vesconte, Nick Washington-Jones, Vanessa Ridgway van Perlstein, Jane Forrest,
Rani Kler, Geraldene Lambert, Alyson Potter, Susie Douglas-Smith, Jennifer Grail, Liz Tiley, Carol Boaks, Riaz Butt, Janice Belshaw, Wendy Loxley, Richard Friend, Jean Bagnell, Alan Reeves, Jane Marrion Higgins, Peter Beck, Pat Cresswell, Valerie Edwards,
Christine Jegu, Michael Rousseau, Bernice Priestnall, Peter Durran, Russell Driver, Roger Moore, Graham Lambert, Ray Bridgman,
Charlie Waring, Nick Ridley, Vanessa Holland, Victor Attwood, Bob Hewitt, Roger Brown, Frances Taylor, Paul Marshall, Sandra Currie,
Sue Jackson-Page, Elaine Brown, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Tricia Riley, Hilary Duckett, Caron Phillips, Sally Ann Beischer, Lindsay Smith, Sylvia Murphy, John Bailey, Mel Sanders, Susan Buckley, Dave Surry, Linda Trettin, John Nicholas, Andrea Aniello, Neil Gordon,
Linda Haynes, Helen Dunn, Graham Waters, Susie Gaskell, Monica Fidgeon, Richard Holland, Ian Newton, Brian Russell, Denise Stevens, Valerie Ann, Cos Watt, Madeliene Gibson, Walter Riggans, John Gould, Jacqui Byrne, John Mcsorley, Dudley Rice, Michael Phillips, Dorothy Flower,
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Service Information
A family-only funeral was held on 11 February 2026 at Crawley Crematorium
Thanksgiving Service - David Vetch - 8th May 2026
Thanksgiving Service for David will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church, Burstow at 12pm on Friday 8th May 2026.
Following the service, the Vetch Family would be delighted if you could join them for an early afternoon tea following the service at Alexander House Hotel, Turners Hill, from 1:15pm. If you are able to attend the service and / or lunch, please contact Alastair Vetch on vetchfamily@gmail.com or via 07767 670477.
Addresses: St Bartholomew's Church, Church Road, Burstow, Surrey, RH6 9RG - map here
Alexander House Hotel, East St, Turners Hill, East Grinstead, RH10 4QD - map here
There is limited parking close to the church so for those for whom walking is challenging or detestable it is possible to drop off and then park on the lanes nearby. Alexander House is approximately a 15-minute drive from the church with ample parking located close to the downstairs room where tea and refreshments will be served.
A family-only funeral was held on 11 February 2026 at Crawley Crematorium
Thanksgiving Service - David Vetch - 8th May 2026
Thanksgiving Service for David will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church, Burstow at 12pm on Friday 8th May 2026.
Following the service, the Vetch Family would be delighted if you could join them for an early afternoon tea following the service at Alexander House Hotel, Turners Hill, from 1:15pm. If you are able to attend the service and / or lunch, please contact Alastair Vetch on vetchfamily@gmail.com or via 07767 670477.
Addresses: St Bartholomew's Church, Church Road, Burstow, Surrey, RH6 9RG - map here
Alexander House Hotel, East St, Turners Hill, East Grinstead, RH10 4QD - map here
There is limited parking close to the church so for those for whom walking is challenging or detestable it is possible to drop off and then park on the lanes nearby. Alexander House is approximately a 15-minute drive from the church with ample parking located close to the downstairs room where tea and refreshments will be served.
