John Fay (F 35-40) very sadly passed away on 11th July at the splendid age of 99. John left Bradfield shortly after the outbreak of WW II when he joined the Fleet Air Arm as a pilot. He served throughout the war and had a subsequent career as one of the first helicopter pilots, and indeed test and training pilot. He demonstrated many Westland aircraft at Farnborough Air Shows in the 1950s and 1960s. He has published several books on helicopters notably The Helicopter History, Piloting and How it Flies, which achieved four editions and was translaterd into several languages.

John was cousin to Old Bradfieldians William Fay (A 59-63) and his brother Peter Buell-Fay  (A 53-56) who also sadly passed away earlier this year.