A new trophy, that will celebrate excellence, has been sponsored by Ascent in memory of a former Royal Navy Aircrewman.
Family and friends gathered for a service at RNAS Culdrose in February to remember Warrant Officer Andy Burry, who passed away suddenly at the age of 59, after retiring from the service in 2019.
With the White Ensign flying at half-mast, his wife and daughter unveiled a memorial stone at the station and presented the Ascent-sponsored trophy in his memory. It will be awarded each year by Naval Flying Standards Flight to the Aircrewman in Merlin Helicopter Force who has achieved excellence in anti-submarine warfare and upholding the navy’s core values.
The event was organised by Ascent’s Mission Aircrew Principal Training Design Manager, Phil Thompson, himself a former Warrant Officer Aircrewman, who served with Andy.
Phil said: “He was just a fantastic person. Andy and I were based at Culdrose together over varying periods of time during our career and we were great friends and we maintained that friendship after we had both left the service. You can see by the turn-out how popular he was. I’ve been absolutely honoured to have been able to call him a true friend.”
Andy’s wife, Charlotte, said she is pleased that he will be remembered with the trophy, especially as he did so much to inspire and mentor others.
“I was always in awe of him,” she said. “He had such a sense of being. He could talk to anyone and make them feel good about themselves. Everyone describes him as being their best mate. He made everyone feel special.”
Warrant Officer Aircrewman Diccon Griffith, currently serving with the Naval Flying Standards Flight – the same role once held by Andy – said: “Our branch will forever be indebted to him. His professionalism, dedication, and focus is what stood him out and made him special.
“Although our careers followed different paths and I didn’t know him as well as some, Andy’s influence as a role model, for me, extended far beyond personal connections. His leadership shaped the careers of countless aircrewmen, particularly those of us here at Culdrose.”
WO Griffith read out a letter at the ceremony, jointly signed by Ascent Managing Director, Tim James, and the Head of Fleet Air Arm Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington, which said: “Andy’s remarkable career, spanning over 30 years of dedicated service, left an indelible mark on the Fleet Air Arm community.
“His unwavering commitment to excellence in anti-submarine warfare, his leadership as a squadron warrant officer, as a member of Naval Flying Standards Flight and as trials warrant officer at the Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron exemplified the very best of our service.”
Members of Andy’s family were joined at the ceremony by former and serving Royal Navy personnel.
All photos: Copyright Royal Navy
