James Coward

The obituary of James Coward that Mark Lax and I wrote last year has been reprinted in the 2013 edition of The Old Johnian, the magazine of St John's Leatherhead, his old school.

 

 

 

An expanded version of James's story will appear in Australian Eagles. (I know, he was born in the UK but he lived in Australia for over 40 years and so I count him as an adopted Australian.) Here is an extract, along with one of the photos from the book: 

 

James Coward’s love affair with flying lasted his entire life. He officially took off his wings in the 1960s but that did not ground him forever. In April 2006, the 90-year-old was invited to speak at the Northern Rivers Aero Club at Lismore. Afterwards, he told Bill Kiernan, the club’s chief flying instructor, about the last time he had flown. Bill asked James if he would like to fly again. Oh yes! There was no stopping James. Bill took him to the club’s two-seater aerobatic trainer and the two ‘hopped in’. Bill started up and James familiarised himself with the controls. Bill then said, ‘your aircraft, Air Commodore’ and James took off. He flew around, getting a feel of the aircraft and flying conditions. Then, when he had attained a comfortable height, he put the aircraft through its aerobatic paces, including a series of barrel rolls. Rather than land the aircraft himself, he handed the controls back to Bill. As they climbed out, Bill was not sure whose grin was the biggest, his or James’s.

 

Bill Kiernan and James Coward, April 2006.