My father and uncle were both killed along with 9 other enthusiasts 24 years ago today on 19th August 1984 when their Vickers Varsity WJ897 / G-BDFT crashed near Marchington, Staffordshire.
I was a teenager at the time, and have only fairly recently embarked on something of a quest to find out as much as I can, not just about the accident, but also about the aircraft and its history. I’ve managed to make contacts with a number of like-minded relatives and friends of the Leicester Aircraft Preservation Group (LAPG) which owned and flew the Varsity during its display career, and have slowly built up something of an archive about the aircraft.
An elusive part of my search so far has been to establish WJ897’s history before it left RAF service. I’d like very much to build upon the little I know (just that it was stationed at Air Electronics Schools at Hullavington and Topcliffe), particularly with any stories and anecdotes members may have; photos would also be very welcome. My eventual aim is to set up a website about WJ897 and the LAPG as a memorial to my dad, my uncle, and everyone lost that day.
One missing item which all my research has failed to unearth so far are the Pilot’s Notes (I think the document number is AP4331A, although I’ve also seen AP101B-3201-15 referred to in some of the documents I have), the originals having survived. I would very much like to locate these or a copy of them, and any help would be appreciated.
Next year is the 25th anniversary of the accident; it would be a marvellous tribute to draw together as many relatives and friends of the LAPG as possible to mark the occasion at the site. I’ll happily be a point of contact to help this happen.
Please also don’t hesitate to contact me if there’s anything you’d like to know about WJ897, I may already have that piece of the jigsaw!
Deb Lowe (Arnold)
By: WJ897 - 27th February 2024 at 14:03
This year is the 40th anniversary of the accident which befell WJ897 / G-BDFT. A small group of relatives and survivors will be gathering at the site to mark the occasion. Unfortunately in the 15 years which have elapsed since the last such gathering, some contact details are no longer working. If you’re a relative or if you know of one who would like to attend, please message us here or via the website’s contact page: https://varsitywj897.wixsite.com/varsity-wj897. Thanks
By: Anthonyharrison - 17th June 2014 at 11:16
Hello Deb.
My name is tony Harrison,I was a great friend of your dad and your uncle Roy you may remember me as I visited Roy quite often.
I have tried to get in touch with Roy’s son Richard and also Wally a cousin I think.
It is thirty years this years and I would like to hear from you or anybody that may be able to put me in contact with yourself or Richard.
With thanks Ton Harrison.
I am new to this website so I don’t know if it will work
My e mail address is anthonyharrison607@ ymail.com
By: WJ897 - 26th June 2009 at 13:01
Hi Michaela,
A PM has been sent. Please also take a look at
http://wj897-lapg.moonfruit.com
which you might find interesting!
By: Michaela Twite - 24th June 2009 at 12:03
Memorial to Vickers Varsity dead
Hi, my name’s Michaela Twite – my brother is Kieron, who posted a while back about our dad – Michael Twite – who was editor of Flypast when he died in the Marchington Varsity crash.
By sheer coincidence, a friend has told me about the memorial in August. I’ve yet to speak to other family members about it, but I’d love to come along. All these years I’ve wondered about those who also lost relatives and those who survived.
If anyone has more info about the event, I’d be grateful for it.
Oh, and anyone who’s got any great tips to stop me being scared of flying will also be gratefully received!
By: Libelle Pilot - 5th February 2009 at 20:55
Hi Deb. I’ve picked up your thread while searching for some details to go with some old (unrelated) gliding photos. On 19/8/84 I was duty pilot at Marchington Gliding Club. The memories are still very vivid. At the time we let our CFI who also witnessed the accident deal with the AAIB and I have read the report. You are very welcome to contact me off line to go through any of what happened at Marchington on that day. I live in Stockport. I am new to Forums, but you should be able to e-mail me. I’ll check this site in the meantime.
Regards
Peter
By: Praesta - 4th September 2008 at 14:20
I was at Syerston that day we used to set our 1/2 tonne SWB on FCR duties. Seeing WJ897 depart or arrive, always on 25 or 07 – whatever the wind, bought the place alive again. RRB used to turn up in his Roller and we’d watch the doors of 10 shed open and wait for her to fire up. A sad day
By: JollyGreenSlugg - 24th August 2008 at 06:32
I remember the day well, getting home from school (Year 7) on a rainy day to see it on the news. And that was here in Australia.
A sad day for aviation preservation.
For mine, Flypast changed after Mike’s tragic death. No ill-respect to Ken Ellis and the crew, for me it was just…well, different.
Cheers,
Matt
By: WJ897 - 23rd August 2008 at 22:30
Many thanks to Bill@Ballykellybrat for the Pilots Notes for the Varsity AP4331A-PN; a picture speaks a thousand words (particularly when it has a numbered key!). A true gent.
This is WJ’s flight deck.
By: Joe Petroni - 21st August 2008 at 11:43
WJ897
You might get some more info if you post your request on PPRUNE.
There is a thread currently running about the Varsity over in the Aviation History and Nostalgia section located here;
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/333015-vickers-varsity-3.html
By: WJ897 - 20th August 2008 at 22:57
This is the Varsity taken at Syerston.
By: John Aeroclub - 20th August 2008 at 18:43
Yes, I now recall it was Liverpool and as we were running late we decided after crossing the Mersey to go to Barton. I have a copy of the Varsity Vol one 101B-3201-1. and the Monograph which feature WJ897 inside the back cover.
John
By: WJ897 - 20th August 2008 at 13:30
Varsity WJ897
The Varsity was on its way to Liverpool Airshow at Speke that day and was flying in formation with a Cessna so that air-to-air photos could be taken. I have a rather poignant photo taken before the aircraft set off from Castle Donnington which shows a document titled “Liverpool Airshow” lying on the navigators workstation. The Varsity had flown from its base which was indeed at RAF Syerston. Its hanger has since been demolished.
I contacted Keiron when his post appeared (it actually caused me to join the forum!), but he hasn’t replied so far.
Deb
By: Ballykellybrat - 19th August 2008 at 21:06
AP4331A is indeed the Pilot’s Notes for the Varsity T.1. You are welcome to have mine (it’s original with amendments to 13/11/1965). Aviation News produced a booklet (Mini-Monograph) on the Varsity, this includes individual aircraft histories. If you wish PM me with your address & I’ll send the PN & copy of WJ897’s service history.
Kind regards,
Bill
By: Thunderbird167 - 19th August 2008 at 13:10
Recently Kieron Twite posted on the site, Keiron is the son of Mike who also lost his life in the accident.
Below is the thread
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79213&highlight=varsity
By: John Aeroclub - 19th August 2008 at 12:50
I remember the incident well, (and recall the great sadness at the time) because I was airborne with Bill Harrison ( the Fairey specialist author) in Jodel, Mike Tango out of Hucknall) heading for Barton airshow where I believe the Varsity was heading and we were told to avoid Marchington. Also if I recall the a/c was based at Syerston.
Kind regards
John
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August 19, 2008 at 12:35 pm