Tributes paid to crew killed in air tragedy

Captain Ian Shoobridge (51) and his crew, James Gordon-Stables (37), from Ludgershall and Neville Moger (45), from Romsey, died when their Twin Squirrel came down in a field at Hurstbourne Tarrant, near Andover, and burst into flames.

The trio had taken off from Thruxton airfield on a test flight for FAST Helicopters, when the accident happened at 2.30pm last Tuesday.

Emergency services received reports that the helicopter had landed upside down. They rushed to the scene but could find no signs of life.

Mr Shoobridge had been flying helicopters for 25 years and had an impeccable safety record.

Early indications are that the crash was caused by a technical failure, although it will take weeks for air accident investigators to complete their inquiries.

Mr Shoobridge's wife, Sue (49), said her husband would be desperately missed by his many friends.

"Everyone loved Ian - he was the life and soul of the party," she said. "He had such a variety of friends from the different parts of his life.

"He was so sharp and quick-witted and always thought of the right thing to say.

"Ian was the most wonderful husband and father - it seems so wrong that he's gone."

Mr Shoobridge was brought up in north London and joined the Army Air Corps in 1980. He served in Germany, the Falklands and Ireland, where he took part in a dramatic night rescue that earned him the Air Force Medal.

After marrying Sue in 1980, the couple moved to Durrington in 1983 and their daughter Laura, now 17 and a student at Lackham College, was born.

Mr Shoobridge took part in the first Gulf War and left the army seven years ago to become a commercial pilot.

"Flying helicopters was his whole working life - Ian was so proud of the machines he flew," said Mrs Shoobridge. "It sounds strange but I never thought he'd die in a helicopter - he had survived all those wars and he was so safety-conscious."

When he was not flying, Mr Shoobridge enjoyed socialising at Durrington working men's club, playing snooker and supporting his beloved Queens Park Rangers football club.

He regularly took his family to the country hotels where he flew his clients and was looking forward to entertaining friends at his Cygnet Drive home in the run-up to Christmas.

"Everyone is devastated - we feel so cheated," said Mrs Shoobridge. "Friends and family have been very supportive - we know they are sharing our terrible loss."

Chief pilot at FAST Helicopters Mike Green paid his respects to Mr Shoobridge and his colleagues.

"Our sympathy goes out to the families and friends of the three men," he said.

"Early signs are that there was a catastrophic failure, which resulted in this accident.

"We shall be anxious to learn exactly what caused the helicopter to fail in flight.

"Ian Shoobridge was an experienced, dedicated commercial pilot and instructor. He will be greatly missed by his friends and the industry as a whole."

The funeral of Mr Shoobridge will take place at St Alban the Martyr, Larkhill Garrison Church, at 1pm on Thursday December 18.

Flowers are welcome but donations can be made to the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, care of Dunnings Funeral Directors, 4 Church Close, Andover.Flooding in Fisherton Street last Monday. DA4483P1TORRENTIAL rain brought misery to traders in Fisherton Street last week, as blocked drains forced flood water over pavements and into shops.

Among the worst hit was Chain Reaction, which had water pouring in before proprietor Marisha White and her staff could get protective sandbags around the front of the shop.

She said: "We feel as if we are in business under siege - it is horrendous.

"We always take a pride in the appearance of our shop and it is heartbreaking to see it now with the windows covered in mud splashes, the paintwork ruined and the floors wet."

A large pool of water covered half of Fisherton Street near Chain Reaction and Nu-Clean Services throughout Monday, making the pavement impassable.

Proprietor of Nu-Clean Lance Foord said the flood water started on Friday and built up over the weekend. Monday's heavy rain caused major problems for traders, as water steadily rose closer to their shops, stopping customers from reaching them.

Traffic was severely delayed on Monday morning in Castle Road, after part of the road flooded near the Castle Road roundabout.

Police coned off the flooded section, forcing rush-hour traffic to use one lane.

Meanwhile, a group of local agencies formed to tackle the flooding problems in south Wiltshire is to continue.

The Salisbury District Flood Steering group was formed in February this year, following a pledge from district council leader Kevin Wren on tackling the flooding problems of the area.

Over the past nine months, the group has drawn up a detailed map showing the main areas of flooding in south Wiltshire.

Four priority areas have been identified - the Bourne Valley, the Upper Till, Tisbury and Pitton.

Other priority areas to be investigated are Teffont and Hanging Langford with Wylye.

A schedule of planned work is now in place for priority areas, with some funding from the council.

Mr Wren said: "The amount of work that has gone on has been quite substantial.

"We have to remember that Salisbury district council does not have a statutory responsibility for flooding.

"Our role has been to co-ordinate all the agencies to work together on this very important issue, which has been achieved."