God Bless Steve Young.

A very moving thread.

May I echo the thanks expressed to everyone who has marked Steve’s passing in some way. And what a variety there is, including an emblazoned Sea Fury, a flying display, a book dedication, and perhaps a focal point at Duxford where we can meet in the future – oh, and not forgetting the visit to the Red Lion 🙂

Kev, I’m so glad that you got talking to Steve’s Mum, and that her and Mr Young have been so comforted by the messages of sympathy.

At 1.30 on Wednesday, I was on an approach to a hilltop helicopter landing site, and while concentrating on the approach, was comforted by an unusually warm breeze which briefly swept through the cabin. I like to think that then , thanks to a higher power, I made a connection with Steve, and all those at the send-off.

At least one of them 😉

I’m still howling (as was Vanessa) at Melvyn’s one-liner about “One day my Prince will….”!!! (I won’t finish out of respect to any younger readers who might see it).

It’s ok, I think we’ve corrupted our younger members already! 😀

You been selling slightly used Princesses again Melv? 😀

I’m still howling (as was Vanessa) at Melvyn’s one-liner about “One day my Prince will….”!!! (I won’t finish out of respect to any younger readers who might see it).

said the Princess as she changed hands.

Ian, isn’t that what the forum’s supposed to be about?

Good memories, good company, good times.

Rob

I am really sorry – my post may have come across completely wrong, as has been pointed out to me by PM. I was delighted to meet some new faces – and visit the Red Lion for the first time – am I am truly sorry if I have offended anyone. That was not my intention at all and I am mortified that it may have done so.

(Note to self: please ensure posts are coherent in future)

Robbo,
Ditto mate. Im sure if Steve had been there he would wanted exactly that.

The Red Lion was an experience I will not forget, the sound of laughter, the noise of people talking to friends or forumites they were meeting for the first time, which for me included Vanessa, Snapper, Steve Patterson, Auster Fan, Yak11Fan, and Moggy, just to name a few.

And wasn’t that one of the legacies of the day we all hoped would happen? New friends made on a sad day?

I’m still howling (as was Vanessa) at Melvyn’s one-liner about “One day my Prince will….”!!! (I won’t finish out of respect to any younger readers who might see it).

The Cat’s out of the bag, the present Mrs EN830 has sussed that maybe there was little intention of getting to the airport in time for the flight. Bugger, I thought I was convincing !!!!!

Sounds like hard hat time to me!!! :p 😀 😀

The Cat’s out of the bag, the present Mrs EN830 has sussed that maybe there was little intention of getting to the airport in time for the flight. Bugger, I thought I was convincing !!!!!

And thank you Melv for holding my hand when I needed it most (sorry about the soggy tissue though ;))

Don’t worry, I am OK with snot.

Ian, you should be ashamed of yourself. Pick on somebody your own size.

BTW, why was there a Mafia representative at Steve’s funeral?

an evening filled with humour and banter, as were all the occasions that Steve was present.

Mike I can assure you last nights visit was no different, in Steve’s honour we felt compelled to carry on the humour and banter at a certain Colonials expense.

Yesterday evening I raised a glass of Californian Ale to my friend Steve. Although I couldn’t be there in person, my thoughts yesterday were very much of Steve, and of all of you attending his funeral. I’m gratified to see that you all did him proud yesterday, and the choice of a visit to the Red Lion afterwards was extremely apt. The last time that many of us saw Steve was there on the Saturday evening after Legends, an evening filled with humour and banter, as were all the occasions that Steve was present. That’s how I shall remember him.

As others have said, he’ll be with all of us every time we visit Old Warden or Duxford, and every time we see a Chipmunk.

God bless, Steve. See you, mate.

I’ve been thinking about how I feel now we’ve said our formal goodbyes to Steve.

You know, I’m happy. I’m not happy that he’s gone, but look at the legacy he has left behind. We sat in that Chapel yesterday (were there any spare seats?) and heard and shared stories about our friend. About his penchant for collecting road transport memorabilia, his love of aviation, which we all share, and so many other things. We shared laughter and shed some tears. The formal goodbye was very hard but what followed was wonderful.

Merlin 70’s photo shows it all. I commented to Andrew O as we walked onto the field that it seemed to be such a bizarre thing to be doing at a funeral, but it also felt right. Steve loved the air, it was fitting to spend some time craning our necks skywards. And we met new people, renewed friendships and some were made stronger, all because of Steve. We have so many good memories of Steve to look back on and his presence in our lives will not be diminished with his passing. How many people can you say that about in a lifetime? We cherish the time we spent with him, and we cherish the memory of the man who had so many facets. We are all extremely lucky to have known him or known of him.

I spent some time speaking to Steve’s Mom. She was overwhelmed by the regard and affection in which Steve was held. She asked me to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and messages, to thank those who attended, those who couldn’t and those who perhaps just stopped for a few moments at 1:30 yesterday to remember the man we are all immensely proud to call friend.

My world is no darker for Steve’s passing, his light burned too brightly to be extinguished by death. In fact it is all the richer for having known him. Where is he now? He’s with us all, always. He’ll be with Haydn as he goes to sleep and there when he wakes. He’ll brighten our dark days when we think of one of his jokes, he’ll inspire us in our research when we think we’ve reached the proverbial dead end. He’ll fly with Steve Patterson at Reno (thank you Steve) and wherever there’s an airshow he’ll be there, walking with us, keeping an eye on us.

We’ll miss him, but when we want to speak to him, he will always be there, in our hearts.

So, it can never be goodbye, because for me, he hasn’t really gone.

See you around Steve.

kev35

Yesterday was a day full of emotions. It allowed people to say there good byes to a guy who knew how to live life to the full. He will be sorely missed here and at the many venues he visited around the UK.
Im not going to say good bye because I dont believe it is a goodbye more of a see you in the future.
See you Steve.

What a lovely thought Steve 🙂

I found it most heartening to see all the forum faces present yesterday, some of you I know well, some of you I had not met before. Apologies if I did not speak to you all, it was not my intention to ignore anyone.

I have to say, the hardest part for me was walking back out of the chapel…for it felt like we were leaving Steve behind…but later on I realised that we didn’t really, as he will live on in the hearts of everyone who cared for him.

And thank you Melv for holding my hand when I needed it most (sorry about the soggy tissue though ;))

I cant really add much to what Becka and others who were there yesterday have posted… just my thanks to everyone involved in setting everything up yesterday, it really was a special day.
thankfully Melv didnt hold my hand, but he did buy me a beer.. 😮 😉 😀
Neil.

[QUOTE=Ashley]What a lovely thought Steve :

“I have to say, the hardest part for me was walking back out of the chapel…for it felt like we were leaving Steve behind…but later on I realised that we didn’t really, as he will live on in the hearts of everyone who cared for him.”

Yep Steve’s not left us, He has just found a better place to observe aviation from, He has a “Ring Side” seat for every Airshow and for every new restoration and is sitting with the Legends and heroes in Heaven and i bet he is still smiling.

Steve will fly with me at Reno next month, as I’m having his name put up on the starboard side of the Sea Fury for the air races this year. Steve would probably have been too proud for that, so it will be for me, to remember a friend. For Steve I promise that I will fly a veteran in the T-6, and tell them of my friend in England, who enjoyed history and who enjoyed keeping the memory of our war veterans alive.

Goodnight Steve, sleep well and thanks for all that you have done for us…

Patty

What a lovely thought Steve 🙂

I found it most heartening to see all the forum faces present yesterday, some of you I know well, some of you I had not met before. Apologies if I did not speak to you all, it was not my intention to ignore anyone.

I have to say, the hardest part for me was walking back out of the chapel…for it felt like we were leaving Steve behind…but later on I realised that we didn’t really, as he will live on in the hearts of everyone who cared for him.

And thank you Melv for holding my hand when I needed it most (sorry about the soggy tissue though ;))