John Stuart Hudspith

John Stuart Hudspith

21.09.1922 - 16.07.2020

John sadly passed away peacefully on 16th July 2020 aged 97 years. Beloved husband of the late Alice, much loved dad of Kate, Liz, Sue and Johnny and loving grandad and great-grandad. Loving companion of Margaret. Ex-RAF veteran and commercial pilot. Rest in Peace.

Anthony Nicholson

22.03.2023

I was sorry to read of John’s passing. My dad, Malcolm Nicholson in Vancouver, Canada recently passed away and I was recalling how fond he was of his cousin John. Best wishes to your family.

(As an aside - Captain John was at the controls of the airplane that flew us to Canada when Malcolm and Denny emigrated and I was an infant - I think it may have been a Bristol Britannia)

Tony Nicholson
5766 Kerry Lane
Nanaimo, BC Canada. V9T5N5

Vickie (Victoria) Ward

20.03.2021

20.3.2021
I am so sorry to read , quite by chance, of John's passing last July. My father, Bert, was a first cousin of John's and I last saw him on the day of Alice's funeral, although I spoke to him on the telephone several years later after my step-mother Joan had passed away.
I have fond memories of seeing over the years, from when I was quite small . He was a lovely quietly spoken man and in those days he seemed to be so tall.
Belated condolences from Vickie and Brian Ward

Kate

17.08.2020

Where to start to write a few words about a man who - beyond all expectation - lived such a long, fruitful life. Full of fun, travel, not a little tragedy of course, but anchored by love and a strong sense of responsibility and duty.

My first clear memory of him was as a four year old in Gananoque where he, my uncle Jack and a long time family friend, Donald Harding, were messing about in a small boat on the river St Lawrence throwing his BOAC cap in and out of the water, continually leaning way in and retrieving and throwing again and again. I'm screaming my head off next to Mum, who was laughing, maybe at me, who knows, but looking back I felt it was a childish understanding of mortality and danger and something bad happening to my Dad!

All through his flying career that feeling manifested itself in weird dreams of taxiing his VC10 down Bognor High Street slicing the tops off the buildings with the wings, crossing the railway line and finally managing take off from the South Downs! They stopped when he retired. Fancy finding out later he had had similar dreams too.

At age 71 years (he started young!) I can draw on, and will continue to, so very many happy memories which will comfort me of wonderful parents who gave us a lifetime of love, support and security for which I shall always be grateful.

Heather

07.08.2020

Fond memories of John and Alice Hudspith.

Johnny Hudspith

07.08.2020

Towards the end of his life I was very fortunate to share some incredible moments with Dad at Goodwood airfield. Only seven months ago after looking around the Silver Spitfire he was invited to fly in the Spitfire simulator at the age of 97, the oldest person to do so. Everthing came back to him and it was as though he was a young pilot again.

We have all been devastated by his death but we realise that we, his children, were very fotunate to have spent so much time caring for him as he had cared for us. We were able to fulfil his wishes, caring for him at home until the last two days of his life.

Dad you had a wonderful innings and we will miss you so much but we are comforted in knowing that you are finally at peace with Mum.

Sandra Bacciocchi

03.08.2020

John and Alice were introduced to me and my husband (deceased), by Kate when we all lived in Edgbaston. We shared a fabulous night at Symphony Hall with Tony Bennett, and whenever I visited Kate, she would take me to see John for an early morning cup of tea. John would always show me around his wonderful garden. He was very much a gentleman who will be sadly missed ....RIP x

Chris Bennett

02.08.2020

I think I speak on behalf of the Bennett family in sending our condolences to you all. John was the "senior" BOAC/British Airways pilot of the group living in the local area and the first to be made Captain, and so was held in some respect (and perhaps a little awe!). Those were happy days and he will be remembered as part of those good times.

Carolyn Cusworth

01.08.2020

I have many happy memories of Uncle John at Rio Cottage; first as a young child before we left for Australia, and then as an adult on our many return trips to England. It was always such a lovely time meeting up with the family and Uncle John certainly was a warm and welcoming Uncle.
My Mum was always so proud of her big brother and loved him unconditionally.
Our love and thoughts from all the Cusworth family are sent to all our family in England.
Carolyn and Peter

Jackie and Mike Johnson

31.07.2020

My Uncle John,

I was only about 13yrs old living in Victoria, Australia when there was a knock at the door one evening. Stood before me was a very striking and distinguished man dressed in a uniform who was on an overnight stop from a flight, and waiting to fly back to the England. “Hello, he said, I’m your Uncle John”! I couldn’t quite believe it.
Being of an impressionable age, I was absolutely awestruck that such a man, a Pilot, who had flown from England, was my Uncle! Having emigrated to Australia with my family at a young age, I had little memory of him, so this was quite a big event for me, and one that has lived with me ever since.
Not long after that I returned back to England with my mother, John’s sister Mollie. John, the lovely Alice, and my cousins became a very happy part of my life, and have been ever since for over 45 years.
In fact, I was so proud to have on my wedding day John give me away, to my lovely husband Mike, of which I have attached a photo. It was a very special moment for me, and one that I will always treasure.
Mike and I loved the family get togethers, with sometimes 20+ people around the table at Christmas, the house beautifully decorated, and Alice hosting a magnificent spread. These were such fun times and truly wonderful memories.
Anyone who knows John will know about his love for flying. Mike and I would chat to him about the places he had been too, and he could remember all the different runway landings and how difficult some of them were to land on, and his knowledge of places around the world was fascinating.
He always had a continued interest, particularly in the Spitfire and Lancaster. You could see his face light up, especially talking about the most recent of experiences seeing the Spitfire close up, and actually sitting in it at Goodwood Aerodrome, a visit organised by Johnny. Those recent times meant such a great deal to him and he loved showing us the photobook of it put together by members of his family.
John was a very charismatic, handsome and fortunate man, who enjoyed a wonderfully long life with tremendous support from his devoted family.
Life won’t quite be the same without you John, and we will miss those times together.
Sending our love – Jackie and Mike xxx

Chris & Ros

30.07.2020

Best wishes to all the family with love from Chris & Ros

Andrew

29.07.2020

A great life, a great family, fond memories, rest in peace.

Carol (Munden) Miller

29.07.2020

To my cousins and families; Sorry to hear about Uncle John. I always enjoyed his visits to Canada with Aunt Alice. I will always remember the time when he had great difficulty eating an ice cream cone and Aunt Alice trying desperately to teach him before all the ice cream ran down to his elbow! :) !
Sending all, tender sympathies and keep those fond memories in your hearts.
Love to all, Carol (Munden), Pat, Riley and Cameron Miller


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