Have just heard that preservation pioneer Neville Franklin has died.
Neville was closely involved in starting the Newark Air Museum and took over the reigns of the magazine “Control Column” in 1968 – running it for many years until aircraft preservation became more popular. This popularity caused the emergence of “FlyPast” and “Control Column” didn’t last much after that. This is a poor sort of obituary and I hope someone else can make a better job of it.
All I know so far is that his funeral is at 10.30am on Friday 4th August in Nottingham.
Roger Smith.
RIP Neville
By: Eddie - 8th August 2006 at 16:10
Very sorry to hear this news.
I knew Neville through my father who knew him through his former employers – Abbott’s Boilerworks in Newark. I remember visiting his house when I was quite young and being very impressed with the huge model of a Wellington that he had sat on the table. Knowing I was interested in aircraft, he sent me some old magazines and photos. It’s probably 2 years since I last saw him, but he was on good form then.
A terrific chap!
By: Robert Whitton - 6th August 2006 at 11:11
Neville was one of the main reasons that I became active in the Preservation Movement. He was unique!!!
By: Atcham Tower - 5th August 2006 at 16:38
I only met him a few times but it was enough find out what a thoroughly nice chap he was, apart from his pioneering preservation efforts.
By: Consul - 3rd August 2006 at 21:47
RIP Neville.
Thanks for passing on this sad news. I knew Neville for many many years and was one the regular correspondents to the BAPC journal Control Column that he edited. Prior to FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, Vintage A/c, Warbirds WW et al coming on the scene and the advent of the web this was one of the first publications dedicated to preservervation and proved an inspiration to others. I kept in touch with him via Xmas cards in more recent years. Having only today returned from abroad I’ve only just learnt of his passing so sadly its too short notice to attend the funeral but my thoughts will be there …. good-bye old friend.
Tim
By: TwinOtter23 - 1st August 2006 at 19:30
Neville Franklin [NF] passed away at home on July 21, 2006 and the timing of his funeral has just been changed to 11am on Friday 4th August at Hawton Church, which is in a small village just south of Newark.
I understand that a few words will be said about Neville during the service and at the BAPC Meeting at Cosford on Saturday 5th August.
Neville was amongst several early pioneers of the British aircraft preservation movement, who history will show made a real difference.
As Mark12 noted without their joint early efforts there wouldn’t be a flying Seafire in the UK. On a positive note I for one am pleased that the Seafire flew before Neville passed away.
By: Moggy C - 1st August 2006 at 17:48
I regret I never met him, but the aviation preservation world is a lot poorer for his passing.
RIP
Moggy
By: Mark12 - 1st August 2006 at 17:28
Thanks for posting that Roger.
I had written to Nev just a couple of weeks back with some photos of one of our former jointly owned projects, that currently graces the front cover of another ‘well known aviation magazine’.
A compulsive collector and holder of aviation junk when it was not so fashionable to do so and now thirty, forty, years on, the world is richer for his endeavours.
RIP Nev.
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August 1, 2006 at 4:34 pm