www.geocities.com/afpmuseum/bkpaf.htmlThe Co-author of the PAF 50th Anniv. pictorial history book recently passed away.
Brain Austria-Tompkins was a friend of Bert Anido, one of the founders of IPMS Philippines. Together they co-authored the PAF pictorial history book that is a refference on the PAF for the world at large.
If you would like to send your condolences to the family, you may send it care of
Collectorsair@aol.com
Brian is survived by his son Nigel and wife Purita de la Cruz Austria - Tompkins.
Sincerely,
Franz Tinio-Lopez
BRIAN AUSTRIA-TOMKINS
10/04/37-8/10/07
Brian Tomkins, as he was then known, was born on April 10th 1937 at theWest Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth.
The much adored only child of George and Eilleen, his formative years were spent in the London area during the blitz.A time he remembered as more exciting than frightening. A schoolboy cheering on the RAF in the skies above and collecting shrapnel in the streets each morning after the previous night's German bomber raids.
His lifelong passion for aviation was undoubtedly sparked by the daily scenes of Spitfires and Hurricanes operating out of Northolt Airfield, which he could see from his home in nearby Tudor Way.
When the war ended in 1945 Brian's love of aeroplanes continued to grow. All his spare time was spent cycling to local airfields, including the recently-opened Heathrow with its terminal tents, in the hope of spotting a new aircraft for the first time.
He joined theAir Training Corps and in July 1952, at the age of fifteen, experienced his first passenger flight, a one hour air experience trip in an RAF Avro Anson from Hullavington.
Brian hoped for a career as an RAF pilot. He successfully passed an aircrew selection course at Hornchurch, but as the Air Force already had too many pilots so soon after the war, he was offered onlyAir Signaller, which carried no guarantee of flying and would have to be endured for a minimum of three years before he could apply again for pilot or navigator training. He decided not to accept the offer.
Whilst still at school he regularly helped out at Denham Airfield, cleaning and refuelling aircraft and was eventually rewarded with his first flying lesson, in a Taylorcraft D in January 1955, with an instructor who was universally nicknamed "Wilbur"Wright but whose real name was Derek.A forced landing following an engine failure on only his fifth flight did little to dampen his enthusiasm.
In April 1955 he joined FaireyAviation as an engineering apprentice and endured cycling to Hayes every morning to begin work at 6.30am for the princely sum of £2.00 per week, because for only £1.00 per hour he could fly the company's Tiger Moths at WhiteWaltham.
After only six months at Fairey Aviation, along with most other young men of his age, Brian was called up for National Service and was lucky enough to get his first choice, the RoyalAir Force. 2778373 SeniorAircraftsman Tomkins, B, spent the next couple of years as an Air Traffic controller at operational Air Force bases around the country.
After leaving theAir Force, Brian looked around for another suitable job in aviation and eventually joined FieldAircraft in London as a commercial trainee in sales and contracts. During his time with Fields he learnt how to overhaul instruments, engines and airframes as background to his main job of selling airliners to representatives in England of various fledgling African and the Middle East airlines, including on one occasion, three Misrair Vikings, shot-up during the Suez campaign, to a Cypriot operator, sold as is, where is and sight unseen.
In 1960, Brian married Marie Somerset and after trying unsuccessfully to negotiate for a significant pay rise with which to start a family, left Field Aircraft Services to join his father in the family Hardware store business. His continuing passion for aviation was evidenced by the company letterhead of the time which read, F. G. Tomkins and Son Ltd,Washing Machines, Refrigerators,Wallpaper, paint, tools, garden seeds… Private and Executive Aircraft Charter and sales!
He finally obtained his private pilots licence in 1961 and enjoyed hours of recreational flying over the next ten years.
Nigel and Joanna were born in May 1961 and August 1963 and Brian's first company, VHF Supplies was born soon afterwards. Due to his interest in aviation and his knowledge of air traffic control, Brian was fascinated by the revolutionary idea of airband radios, which enabled aircraft enthusiasts to listen to the actual conversation of pilots in contact with air traffic controllers, for the first time. Before long, VHF Supplies was selling more Sharp radios, converted to receive airband by a few simple modifications, than the rest of the UK retailers put together. Enough for Brian and Marie to buy a brand new E-Type Jaguar car and move up in the world.
Over the years, Brian's astute business brain and entrepreneurial spirit enabled him to identify several other new markets which would reward him well and enable him to stay involved in aviation, albeit on the periphery. VHF supplies grew and began publishing books to satisfy the enthusiast market, many of which were originally compiled and edited by Brian himself. Later he was among the first to produce aircraft models for private pilots and owners and
subsequently to supply aircraft models for private collectors around the world, first as VHF Supplies, then as Executive Display Models and finally as Collectors Aircraft Models, which he formed in partnership with his son Nigel.
In 1987, Brian remarried, Purificacion de la Cruz Austria, a Filipina who had been living for the previous twelve years in England, and they adopted the combinedAustria-Tomkins surname. His trips to the Philippines inspired an interest in Philippine aviation which led to a new pastime of collecting and collating photographs and information of each and every aircraft ever to have been registered in the Philippines. Brian became the world authority on Philippine aviation and enjoyed many visits to the country, making numerous friends including many of the Air Force Generals.
In 1997, after a break of some 26 years and at the age of sixty, Brian started flying again.
Beginning again from scratch, he soon passed his test, and later even an IMC rating. He enjoyed some eight more years of "pottering among the clouds", making many new friends at WhiteWaltham.
In February 2006, much to the shock of his close family, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent an operation and a course of radio therapy but was eventually told that his illness was terminal. Determined to live life to the last, he refused Chemotherapy, which he was told would simply give him a further six months of illness, celebrated his 70th birthday with three parties thrown for him by family and friends and enjoyed a month's holiday in the Philippines.
His final weeks were spent at home in bed looking out on his garden and cared for by Purita. He passed away peacefully on the morning of October 8th without having suffered and is hopefully now in the clouds where he longed to be.
He was a rare breed, an astute businessman who was totally straight in all his dealings. He was generous, charming and witty.
Liked by everyone and dearly loved by his wife, children, grandchildren and the rest of his family.
He will be missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him and the world was a richer place for his having been here.
By Nigel Milton-Tomkins