 It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Air Commodore David Norriss (OC 41(F) Sqn 84-87). He passed away over the weekend from complications following routine surgery. He was described as: "a much loved ‘proper officer’ who was liked and respected by all with whom he engaged." David started his flying career as a Vulcan Air Electronics Operator from 1964-1971. He graduated from pilot training in 1971 and after completing a tour as a flying instructor, joined the Jaguar force as the aircraft first entered service in 1975. Following his command tour on 41 (F) Squadron, he served an exchange posting at the USAF University in Alabama, returning to the UK as Station Commander of RAF Chivenor. As an Air Commodore, he was the Air Attache & Assistant Defence Attache in Washington DC from 95-00. Per Ardua. These pictures of David Norriss were kindly forwarded by the Military Secretary of the Sqn Association from the F540: The first is his arrival as the Boss, then there are 2 from a RED FLAG deployment, one of him presenting the old Standard to be hung up when the new one was delivered and finally a couple from his Dining Out Night in 1987.
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Dear All, it is with great sadness that we have to notify the Squadron family of the passing of David Norriss, Officer Commanding 41 (F) Squadron from 1987 to 1989. The funeral service will be held in Horsham on the 27th of February, full details are listed below courtesy of Sir Peter Norriss. Dear All,
As you kindly wrote to me following David’s death, I thought I’d let you know the arrangements for his funeral, though some of you will also get the information from other sources. It will take place at 1330 on Tuesday 27th February 2018 at: St Mary’s Church Causeway Horsham West Sussex RH12 1HE You cannot park in the Causeway and parking options in the immediate vicinity of the church are very limited. We would therefore recommend you park in one of the town centre car parks and walk to the church. Most of the car parks are within 5 - 15 minutes’ walk. The following link: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parking/town-centre-parking will show you the car-parking options in the town centre, the cost and how you pay. The closest ones to the church are: The Forum, Blackhorse Way (5 minutes) Denne Road (5 minutes, although this is a small car park and can be difficult to park) Piries Place (5-10 minutes) There is also a large multi-storey car park attached to the Swan Walk Shopping Centre but this is a slightly further walk than the others (10-15 minutes) Following the service those attending are invited for afternoon tea at Mannings Heath Golf Club and Wine Estate, Hammerpond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG where the family will join them after a family-only burial in a local cemetery. Those planning to attend the service and wake are asked to let me know so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Family flowers only please. If you wish to make a donation to charity in memory of David, the family have asked for these to be made to the RAF Benevolent Fund and/or Dementia UK. These can be donated at the Church, sent directly to either the Funeral Director (Freeman Brothers, 9 North Parade, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2BF) or to the charity concerned. Kind Regards Peter Information taken from: https://www.rafbf.org/ The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity with a proud tradition of looking after its own. We are there for all serving and former members of the RAF as well as their partners and dependent children.     Flt Lt Laura Frowen will be taking part in one of the toughest adventure races in the world: The GODZone Pure. The race runs from 1st-10th March 2018, in the stunning Fiordland in New Zealand. More than 390 racers, from around the world, will compete in unsupported teams of four, travelling across approximately 373 miles (600km) of wilderness. The race will consist of up to 10 days of non-stop racing, including sleeping in the elements, navigating at night, as well as canyoning, coasteering, kayaking, running, mountain biking, orienteering, packrafting and trekking. The team are no strangers to a challenge. They are drawn from a dozen or so people across the service who have competed together over the past 4 years, fitting races in around their operational deployments. Jamie Buckle is the captain and driving force behind the team. He has competed in 3 AR World Series races and 2 European Series AR events as well as many one-day events in the UK. Recently he completed the Jurassic Coast Challenge (100km from Poole to Bridport) and the Ring of Fire (135 miles around Anglesey). Laura Frowen, navigator, first started adventure racing in a 4 day Hebridean Challenge in 2006 and after a hiatus took up the sport again in 2015. She has competed in an AR World Series race (2017) as well as a Euro Series AR event (2016). As an ultra runner, she has completed the Northern Traverse (190 miles and 16000 ft of ascent across northern England) and several UK Series Mountain Marathons. Charlie Butterfield raced the Euro Series AR (2016), and has competed in the Jurassic Coast Challenge and Marmot Dark Mountains mountain marathon. And Penny Grayson, the most recent addition to the team, brings proven endurance and athletic power after many years of racing ironman triathlon (as a GB age-group athlete) as well as completing the Jurassic Coast Challenge and the Ridgeway Challenge (86 miles along the Ridgeway to Avebury Stones). Laura Frowen explains how adventure racing can be so inspirational: For me the defining moment in recent races was in Expedition Africa in early 2017. It was the end of Day 3, and we had spent 2 hours queuing at the top of the Tyrolean Traverse, waiting for our turn and catching some sleep. We got going at about 0100hrs and after an uneventful abseil across the river, with the water glinting below in the dark, we started canoeing downriver. It was my first experience of night paddling and the still, inky water was unnerving. I felt great - really awake and full of energy - but kept losing my balance as the dark water seemed to give me an odd sense of vertigo. (That, and when I stopped to check the map, the fact I couldn’t work out which was the front of the paddle blade, told me that in fact I was, in fact, very, very tired!!) But the chance to paddle down this remote river in the middle of South Africa, with the stars overhead, was utterly magical, one of those moments when you have to stop and just think: “Wow, look at where I am and what we’re all doing!” Coming from a background in ultra running, I love being able to share these moments with other people. After something to eat at the end of the paddle section, we headed out on a trek section which started with a bracing swim across the river just as the sun was coming up. |
Photo Credit:
Rich Cooper/COAP Association BlogUpdates and news direct from the Committee Archives
May 2020
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