Vic Sheppard : GM France
Sadly we learn that Vic passed away on 12th September 2025 after an illness that he had endured for some months. He passed in hospital in Brighton where he had been for some time, with Lynn and family at his bedside.

My sincere condolences to his wife Lynn, his family, friends and former colleagues.


A photo of Vic from 1971 when he was Station Manager, Le Bourget
Vic Remembered

From Trevor Boud
Vic was a solid and true airline professional and colleague. My truly sincere condolences are offered to Lynn and family. Trevor and Bobby

From Tony Cocklin
Very sad news indeed, Chris. Vic was a true pillar of our BCAL enterprise and the community it fostered. An absolute professional and good friend to many in so many ways. Vic leaves a rich legacy. Sincere condolences to Lynn and family.

From Brian Russell
Vic was our Manager at Gatwick early 70’s when I was a Duty Officer and prior to that in different roles. I learned so much from him-if there was ever a man to keep people on their toes it was Vic and he remade the Passenger Services experience. I really liked and respected Vic and this is very sad news. Our condolences to his family- RIP Vic and thanks.

From Chris Gilbert - I have great memories of Vic over many years. A great man has left us.

From Bill Hart
I have many happy memories of the time when we worked on the EK Account with Vic - him Chairing the legendary monthly meetings that glued the whole team together. More recently time on the golf course with him sneaking the odd mini cigar. And of course the lunch you hosted literally weeks ago with him having a go at you for not passing on an Emirates Golf Cap that he had promised me!

From Phil & Pauline Bowell
I first knew Vic when I was in catering at BUA in 1969 and have known him ever since. He spent the vast majority of his time in BCAL, in Passenger Services where as Manager, he ensured that his Passenger Service team delivered the outstanding product that we all admired.

I especially recall the time when I joined Vic and others in a team sent to Le Bourget in 1972 to start the Golden Arrow Service we took over from BEA. An enduring image I will always have of him is when on the first flight, he rode the Load Control bike out to a remote stand to meet the flight. John Grant was peddling and Vic sat on the pannier at the front – all this on the morning after he painted the old BEA Red bike Blue. He had blue paint marks on the back of his suit all day.

After Passenger Services, he went to Paris as Sales Manager France. He went on to join Emirates where he had a prolonged career in charge of the London Sales Office. For the last several years, he was a regular member of The BCAL BOYZ Dinner, which organised by Chris Gilbert, would meet quarterly at the old BCAL haunt, The Six Bells pub in Horley. We all enjoyed his company and the old tales from a great period in our industry.

From Jeff Youtan -
So sorry to learn that another BCal stalwart, colleague and friend has left us. RIP Vic, you will be missed.

From Alan Reeves
- I'm so sad to hear of Vic’s passing, a big figure in our lives. RIP Vic

From Rohan Alce - The most awful news. We have lost a truly great guy and a good friend. RIP Vic. 

From Michael Booth -
Awful news, RIP Vic.

From Derek Epps - A sad time, he was a great boss to me and a good friend. 

From Keith Haynes
- Such sad news. RIP Vic.

From David Williams
Vic was a fine gentleman another key original of the BCAL family. My condolences and love to the family

From Trevor Warburton
Very sad news indeed. Vic was a colleague of mine from the start of our careers in various roles. Many stories to be told! RIP Vic.

From David Wilson -
What terribly terribly sad news. My condolences and love to Lynn and the family

From Barry Prior
So very sad to receive the news of Vic’s passing. A truly great friend, colleague and industry professional, known by so many of us for more than fifty years! Our sincere condolences to Lynn and family at this very difficult time. RIP Vic - we’ll miss you..

From Don Passmore - RIP

From Roger Warren - RIP Vic

From Derek Jenkins - RIP

From Walter Riggans
Sad news indeed. Like a number of us, Vic later joined Emirates and was VP UK until his retirement. I attended his farewell and a few of his ex BCAL team were also invited - Alan Reeves, Rob Holland and Dave Ridgeway (who was also with Emirates) and of course Sir Tim Clark. I last saw Vic when Emirates operated a one off A380 into Gatwick prior to regular services. Vic had been invited along and it was great to catch up again. He will be missed.
RIP Vic and sincere condolences to his family and friends.

From Janet Willis -
Rest Easy Vic

From Cos Shiels
- Such sad news. Vic was always utterly charming RIP

From Jenny Thomas -
Sorry to read this. RIP Vic

From Pat Cresswell -
so sorry

From Caron Phillips
So sorry to read this, my boss for many years. RIP Vic and my sincere condolences to his family and friends

From David Budgen
Oh my, that is so sad, I’m so sorry to hear this and my sincere condolences to his family, friends and all his colleagues

From Phil Baker
Very sad news about Vic, who loomed very large in my early career development – Load Control, Pax Services, then Paris and even Dan Air.

From Robin Dobson
Wow - Such sad sad news. What a true Industry professional but so more than that, a really great man, so kind, full of warmth humour and friendship. He will be truly missed. 

From Linda Collyer - Sorry to hear this news. RIP

From Neville Coleman
So sad, Vic was my supervisor in Ships Papers for a while and used to sort out meals on a night shift from Catering unit. Great guy tough but fair.

From Nick Bailey
Sorry to learn about the sad passing of Vic, I spoke to Lynn a couple of weeks ago and he was at home then but not up to taking a call, I only knew he wasn’t very well having received that news from Laurie Berryman a few days earlier when we had played golf together he was representing Ifield and I was in the team from West Hove. I spent a lot of time with Vic on a start up airline which didn’t fly.

From Andy Geary Stevens
Very sad indeed. He was an airline man through and through. We are now at an age when sad news becomes more regular but it doesn't make it any easier to accept. In fact, the opposite is true,  because we have worked with those involved. RIP Vic.

From Ranald Noel-Paton
Sad news about Vic. Yes, Vic was a fine man and I join in saluting his memory. I remember him well, even as far back as those early days at Gatwick.

From George Banks
I was very sad to hear this news about Vic as he was a major light in BCAL and Emirates. My condolences to his family.

From Jacqueline Dillmann
Oh no, what a shock, Vic always seemed like unbreakable. I shall remember Vic as a great professional. It is really a sad news. My sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace,

From Nick Ellis
Incredibly sad news. Vic was my first boss in BCAL when I joined in June 1976, and for me, he was always fair and supportive of his staff.

From Stephen Saar -
Great Guy. RIP

From Anne Winckworth
Very sad news to read. Our boss too for many years. RIP Vic, sincere condolences. Anne & Chris Winckworth .

From Vanessa Holland
- Sorry to hear this sad news. RIP, Rob & Vanessa

From Seona Craig - Remember him well

From Lynne Le Maitre
Sad news - I’ll never forget the day he walked into the Clansman Lounge at the very moment we spotted a mouse running across the floor and all shrieked and jumped on chairs !

From Graham Waters - R.I.P.

From Peter Barrie
Sorry to hear the news of Vic’s passing. We worked together in Traffic under John Byrne then John Grant. Eventually we went our separate ways. Never the less I still retain fond memories of those days.

From Madeliene Gibson
Sad news. Will always remember him looking over the balcony at check-in and watching that we had our white gloves on when walking around

From Dallas-Wendy Rowland - Very sad to hear this. Remember very well opening the Paris office with him.

From Sandra Dalmeijer
So sorry to hear the sad news on Vic. My thoughts go to his family. Rest in peace Vic.

From Neil Ambrose - Very sad news. Vic interviewed me and gave me a job on the Ticket Desk at Gatwick. RIP

From Jean Elmer - Very sorry to hear Vic has joined his mates in the blue yonder. He had such a huge presence in BCAL.

From Laurence Berryman
Such sad news. Vic was more than a boss to me at Emirates, he was my mentor. He was a leader in the Airline industry. I will always remember the GBTA golf trips to Dubai where his warmth and good humour always ensured that everyone had a great time. My sincere condolences to Lynn and the family.

From Mike Pettit
This is very sad news indeed. Vic was both liked and respected by all who worked with him. I will always be grateful to him for his support and guidance. RIP Vic.

From Tony Mackey
So very sad to read this news. In BCal and Emirates Vic was a true professional.  RIP and sincere condolences to your family. 

From Peter Goddard
For anyone working in LGWKKBR in the 80’s Vic Sheppard embodied Gatwick, almost a legend: firm but fair, respected, occasionally feared; in those days Gatwick was run in an almost military style, and we were all proud to be part of the B-Cal story.

I got to know Vic much more when I worked directly for him in Dan Air when we re-launched scheduled services with Classe Elite; we relived a little bit of the B-Cal culture, until of course BA struck a second time…  RIP Vic, it was a great flight albeit with a hard landing.

From Elspeth Barber
So sad to hear of Vic’s death. He was a great boss and so supportive to us, his staff at Gatwick, during the ups and downs of the airline during the seventies.

From Anthea McClelland
RIP - I still remember when Vic and I were part of the BCAL advance team when we were taking over the Lagos route from BA. Vic and I shared a car ride from Lagos Airport to downtown Lagos and I think we were both scared s......less. I personally had never experienced such chaotic driving with cars, bicycles and people going in every which direction and I don't think Vic had either.

From Coreen Wilcox
So sorry. I remember Vic from working on the ground. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones

From Deanna West
So sad to hear this news. He was a very respected boss to have in Passenger Services in the seventies'. Sincere condolences to his family. RIP

From Richard Holland - RIP Vic

From Nick Ridgway
That’s very sad, I recognise the name from dad talking about him in years gone by, and mum said he was my late dad’s boss in his early days for BCAL at LGW, and of course latterly with Emirates. Condolences to Vic's family from Yvonne, Chris and Nick Ridgway (hope he’s having a catch up with dad (Dave) somewhere now about all things aeroplanes)

From Andy Geary Stevens
I am very sad to learn of the passing of Vic Shepard. He was a colleague of long standing in both Ground Operations and Sales. It is rewarding to see that so many of his friends and colleagues have sent their condolences. I add my own to his wife Lynn and the family at this difficult time. RIP Vic, gone but certainly not forgotten.

From Hannatu Gentles née Danjuma
I am very saddened to hear of Vic's passing, my condolences to Vic, Nick and the rest of Vic's family and friends. Vic was like a work father to me, his kindness, knowledge and guidance paved an incredible foundation for me plus his sense of fun, laughter and above all his joy of music and dancing will also have a special place in my heart. Rest well Vic.

From Sally Simmonds
- So sorry. RIP, Vic.

From Lynne Wilson (now Le Maitre)
So sad to hear this news. Vic was a firm but fair boss at BCAL when I worked in the Clansman Lounge and later in Training. Condolences to his family.

From Peter Black
Memory in the early weeks of my career with BCal = Courtesy meeting with Vic Shepard at his office : afternoon tea (F Class level china cup service), served by a BCal "hostess in training", in his office - which itself offered the attending group a wonderful / dramatic view of the main runway at LGW.  Doubly indelible because I was the only one whose jaw dropped !

From Len Bunn - RIP Vic

From Pauline Bowell
Such sad news. My first time meeting Vic was in May ‘73, when I was a brand new PSA wearing my trainee Orange badge. Shadowing Julie Francis, we’d met a domestic flight. In the domestic baggage hall, a passengers bag fell off the carousel. I just stood there, expecting the owner to collect it and take off. Then a gentleman, standing next to me, in his usual camel coat, look down at me, and said : “That’s your job. Pick it up and put it back on the carousel”. Julie told me later it was Vic Sheppard, our Boss! I was mortified and terrified of him from that day on! Rest peacefully Vic

From Arran Whitney
So sad to hear this news. My condolences to Lynn and the family. I worked for Vic at Emirates for many years and he was a great role model and mentor. He was generous with his time, had a mischievous sense of humour and was a true leader.

From Tony Roberts
- R.I.P. Víc and fly high

From Kenneth Lownds - RIP Vic



If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at  BCalatribute@outlook.com



Condolences were extended by:

Dave Thaxter, Chris Gilbert, Joy Inch, Anthea McClelland, Marie Hogbin, Maria Shaw, Ray Bridgman, Julie Hourigan, Jacqui Byrne, Janice Belshaw, Terry Sparrow, Tricia Riley, Helena Burgoyne, Seona Craig, Lynne Le Maitre, Marc Durham, Dorothy Flower, Biddi Geoghegan, Bob Nicholls, Jackie Hebert Hayes, Graham Waters, Brian Russell, Stephen Saar, Lesley Peacock, Caron Phillips, Alan Roberts, Peter Durran, Steve Taylor, Pat Cresswell, John Morgan, Derek Jenkins, David R Holder, Sue Jackson-Page, Cos Shiels, Terry de la Haye, Sylvia Murphy, Jenny Thomas, Jenny Holland, Roger Moore, Christine Jegu, Walter Riggans, David Groom, John Bailey, Christine Grant, Barrie Rawlins,


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Service Information

Vic's service was held on 14th October 2025 at Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground nr Hassocks
British Caledonian - A Tribute