Norman Apsey
It was with great sadness that we heard that Norman Apsey passed away peacefully in his sleep around eight pm on the evening of the 20th December*. Audrey Apsey said that at the age of 85 he had suffered a further stroke and contracted pneumonia shortly afterward, so it was a relief for him in many ways. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife Audrey his Family and friends. He often popped into the workshop, often on his way back from work, and was always ready for a fag, a tipple and plenty of good humoured Micky-taking (No, don’t bother getting up Norman. Oh, sorry you already have!) whilst keeping us entertained with one of any number of ‘there was this tree’ stories which, in Norman’s case, there usually was.
A regular visitor to him at the nursing home, Geoff Lescott wrote that, ‘Hard to write this as it was only a day after we paid him our last visit. So many of us have reaped the benefit of Norman’s skills, engineering knowledge, leadership and instructional abilities over many years. His friendship has touched us all at various times and his chairmanship of several BBAC affiliated Clubs, including our own Black Horse, not to mention Chairmanship of the BBAC itself will indicate how much he put into our sport’. The funeral will be held at 1345 on Monday 15th January 2018 at The Chilterns Crematorium, Whielden Lane, Amersham HP7 0ND (just off the Wycombe Road) and afterwards at Missenden Abbey, London Road, Great Missenden HP16 0BD on. *Always one to make light of a difficult situation, as an ex RN officer he would probably have rendered this as at, Eight Bells of the Second Dog Watch….RIP, Norman’.
The newspaper cutting comes courtesy of Peter Dowlen, along with Norman in his trade-mark hat, ran the 1st All Fools Meet at the Black Horse back in April 1983. Shortly after the piccie was taken the skies cleared and flying commenced.