Jim Coleman [Lincoln 7] has passed away

I’ve only just stumbled across this sad news; I don’t visit here much anymore.

I never met Jim but we spent many happy hours discussing (arguing) about what was going on in the world; we disagreed about much, and agreed about more, but he was always good natured in his point of view and always ready to listen to mine.

We shared a common interest in collecting components from aero-engines; Jim was trying to collect a piston from every type of aircraft he had ever flown-in (a task which I envied him for, as the list of types seemed long and distinguished)!

It was my pleasure to help him positively identify pistons that he had been offered (or that he had already collected) and it was also my pleasure to send him some small components, missing from his collection.

On one memorable occasion Jim questioned the price of having a master-rod air-freighted over from the USA; despite my assurances of how reasonable I thought it was he was still scandalised. When the rod turned-up Jim finally saw the funny-side; he said he could hardly lift it it was so heavy!

It would be nice if Jim’s collection had made it into a local museum; I think he would have liked that.

(Back into the) ‘blue skies’ Jim, and thank you for being there when I just needed the kind words of a kindred spirit with interests as obscure as mine!

RIP Jim – we communicated regarding Lincolns and RF342 specifically 

R I P  Jim blue skies.

Bye Jim me old mate, thinking of you on this awful day, one hopes you and Poppy will be laid to rest.

I sadly won’t be able to attend, I had hoped it may have been possible but alas not,  please pass on my condolences to the rest of the family and I will be thinking of him on the 23rd.

Hi All,

 Just read this thread so sad I only new him from and did once send him a Christmas present and a signed birthday card from Keith Woodcock. so, so sad in deed.

RIP Jim.

Thanks for that Becks. As you can see from my photos of Jim as a boy (in the Peterborough ATC) at the start of this thread I have known him for a long time. I was sad to hear of him flying off to a land where Lincolns also still fly. I’m sorry that I can’t get to the funeral as I am a long way away, but I shall be thinking of you.

Laurence

Thank you , i hope it all goes well R I P Jim 

Family Flowers only please, any donation to cancer research. 
 

Many Thanks

Becks

Jim, passed 23:50pm on Saturday 4th January.

Welcome to come to the  funeral it will be on the 23rd January at 11am @ Surfleet Crematorium. The wake will be held at Thatched Cottage Sutterton after if you could please let me know if you wish to attend so I know how much to cater for at the wake.

Many Thanks 

Thank you so much for the lovely messages 

Becks

Jims Granddaughter

Sleep Tight Pops ❤️ 

Second attempt to reply. The first disappeared.

Thanks for those splendid pictures Blue. Quite an achievement. I never liked that Australian nose though! (Although one might see a resemblance to an NF14)

Laurence

Laurence, the Lincoln ‘stuff’ I have. The panel was a nearly bare wreck, missing its upper port quarter and likely removed from a fire dump airframe. The only instruments left in it were the oil pressure gauges! 

It’s now a much happier thing, with lights working off the appropriate switches as you can see.

I also have some assorted period Lincoln paperwork…

And have built an RAAF Mk.31, with an RAF one in the pipeline

All this Jim and I corresponded on regularly. Sadly, he’ll not get to see it finished…

Damn.. just saw this.. top bloke will be missed..

Quite right bazv, we never did. Pity we have to wait for sad news to realise!

Laurence

Sad news – I did manage to meet up with Jim a few years ago at Old Warden,but subsequently I moved a fair bit further North so did not manage to visit with him again.

Many thanks for the pics Laurence – we never did manage to meet up.

bazv – also ex 115 (peterborough)  sqn cadet (1966-70)

Blue: I’m sure my old friend Jim wouldn’t mind my using this thread to ask you if you can show us your Lincoln stuff (for old time’s sake). PM if you prefer.

Laurence

Thankyou for sharing these pics with us. I’m saddened, as we were formulating a cunning plan for him to possibly attend one of the Newark events in 2020, and I was going to bring the Lincoln instrument panel I am restoring and some other Lincoln stuff I have for him so see. Sadly, it was not to be…

Jim passed on his leather flying helmet he is seen wearing to his sons daughter. I haven’t spoken to Jim in a few years, so I am saddened to learn he is no longer with us, such a nice guy and someone I considered a friend.

We had some good times together visiting the odd airshow and the like, I spent Christmas with him one year showing him cooking for himself wasn’t difficult, he had a few ups and downs but he will be sorely missed.

RIP mate, one hopes you and your beloved dog are reunited on some distant runway. Blue Skies.

Saint Jim reunited with the Lincoln at Cosford, one which as an air cadet he flew in.

St Jim by Tony Taylor, on Flickr

Last one (I promise): Jim with the mayor of Peterborough (last cadet on the right). I’m the sergeant just in front of Jim. RIP my old friend.

Laurence

ATC camp at Kinloss, 1958. Jim Coleman on the right – ready for anything. Jim and I had got used to flying in Lincolns (see my post above), so the Shackleton was a bit different (but not much).

Laurence