A lasting memory of Winston Churchill

LG 270115 David Kay, whose helicopter firm helped to cover the funeral of Sir Winston. Holding a photo of a helicopter he once owned. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-150127-231341001

HALF a century ago, millions of people watched the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill at St Paul’s Cathedral, in London.

And, on Friday, as the nation reflected on the 50th anniversary of the former Prime Minister’s final journey, the Gazette spoke to an Angmering man who had a unique view of the proceedings – from the sky.

David Kay, of Lansdowne Road, played an instrumental part in capturing the aerial footage of the ceremony through the capital.

Aged just 32 at the time, he was the head of his fledgling aviation consultancy Westland Heliport in Battersea – which was the only one of its kind in London.

Mr Kay, now 81, recounted how the international press flocked and squabbled to get prime seats on the limited number of helicopters at his disposal.

“Unfortunately, if memory serves me right, squabbles developed between various press photographers, some waving different currencies at the pilots demanding to go lower and lower over Baldon Church during the solemn ceremony.

“It was fairly chaotic,” he added.

Mr Kay said that, at the time, he was not aware of the gravity of the event that he was helping to cover.

“We were just a service. My main concern was safety first, reliability second and keeping to a schedule.”

However, as the years moved forward, Mr Kay said he was proud to have been part of such an historic day.

“Looking back, it was a privilege to help – albeit indirectly – to make such a thing possible,” he added.