Monday, 13th April 2009
Posted by Geoff on 13 Apr 2009 at 10:15 am | Tagged as: Flying
Normally we enjoy writing the blog. But yesterday, there was a fatality at Corndon. Gordon McGregor, a Scottish pilot who often flies here suffered a collapse and stall, and was too low to recover the glider, and didn’t manage to throw his chute. Judith and some others were in the air at the same time, in, more or less, the same thermal. This is not the place to speculate on the reasons for the accident, or to give a detailed description. However, his family have now been informed, and we know that people have been looking at this blog for more information, so it seems appropriate now to at least say who it was, so that people know.
This was a tragic event, and very traumatic for everybody present. The one good thing which can be said is that everyone pulled together and did their utmost to help. The rescue services were there very quickly, and in fact a paramedic was on the scene in minutes – he lives at the bottom of Corndon and saw the crash, and raced up the hill to help. The air ambulance followed soon after, but nothing could be done.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
22 Responses to “Monday, 13th April 2009”
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A very sad event indeed. My thoughts are with Gordon’s family and friends.
I hope all the witnesses to the accident are OK, as it is a very distressing thing to see. If there is any solace to this incident then he died doing the thing he loved.
I only met Gordon once. He bought me a coffee in the MGC. A really nice man, I`m so sad to hear of his loss.
Hi, could you confirm if this is the same Gordon Macgregor who worked as an optician who also went by the name Trevor?
Thanks
Very sad news.
Hope you guys are OK, must have been awful.
Renee
Cheryl: he was an optician. Not sure about the name Trevor.
Renee: thanks for the thoughts. It was awful, and will take a while to recover. It’s something you never forget.
I knew gordon from many nationals spent flying together. He was a real part of that family – always ready with a smile and a beer however his day had gone. He will be really missed.
Mike
Hi Geoff: thanks for the reply, I knew Gordon as Trevor (his middle name).
I worked with Gordon in Lincolnshire and we became great friends, he was truly one of the most remarkable men I have ever met, he was a good friend to me and my family, my children idolised him. Me and all of my colleagues that had the priviledge of working with Trevor-as we knew him- are really sad and utterly shocked to hear of this news and I know everyone who ever met him will agree it is a real loss to us all not to have him with us any more.
I send my deepest sympathies to his family and friends and hope and pray you find some comfort in all the messages of love I have read for you.
May you fly far and high now Trevor, you will be sadly missed but never forgotten.
Cheryl xxx
I would really like to say thankyou on behalf of Lanarkshire & Loathian Soaring Club to all those who did what they could for Gordon on Sunday.
Here in our own club enviroment as you all will probably understand we are devastated by loosing one of our most charismatic characters, and club chairman in such a way. We all appreciate Geoff’s candid posting and having the link posted on our own google group has given us a vital start in the understanding process of what happened to the big fella.
We have just been contacted tonight by Gordon’s family and I will send on any details for the funeral arrangements and condolence cards via Judith, hopefully within the next couple of days.
My heart also goes out to all that witnessed the accident.
Yours Aye
Sean Figgitt (LLSC)
The biggest smile and always so keen. I’ll miss seeing him around.
I’ve just looked at this today in the throws of everything else that we’ve been facing since Sunday. Thanks to all of you for your comments about Gordon, it is so comforting to read about him within the paragliding community about which he was so passionate. Some of you may remember that he had a serious accident about 2.5 years age whilst competing in the British Championships in Spain and we thought that we were going to lose him then. Although I always knew in my heart that one day something like this was going to happen, it was a massive shock to us on Sunday that our fears had become a reality. We are taking comfort in knowing that he died doing something that he loved and that he lived to fly. He was a kind and loving brother, son and uncle and will be sorely missed by us all.
Hello to everyone,
This is such sad news. We were flying this weekend in Wales and heard of this from a friend of Gordon. Lots of love to all his freinds and family. After 18 years of flying these accidents make you wonder about flying again, but next time we fly, we will take his memory with us. So sorry for your loss xxx Guy and Rachel
I’m extremely saddened, as is everyone. Gordon was a true gent and we’ll all miss him. I’ll be up there flying for you Gordon. Kirsty x
Hi all,
my name is Simon. Gordon was my best friend of over 20 years. he was my best man at my wedding and he was very much a part of my family, my wife,daughter, mum, dad, sisters, nephews and neices all adored him. we have had many adventures together over the years and i will miss him dearly, mostly for his passion for adventure but above all for his true friendship and genuine desire to enjoy good company. it is very comforting to read all the nice comments about him and the way he touched a lot of lives. my thoughts are with his family and everyone who knew him and also with everyone who was there with him at the time of his tragic accident.
keep flying and keep safe and next time you are up high in the sky, just remember that he is there with you.
love you Gordon, miss you terribly. x
Really sorry to hear about Gordon. An absolute gent. One of the highlights of going to the nationals was hearing his funny stories. My favorite was about the petrol leak on his sports car which dripped onto the exhaust and caught fire on the motorway. He was blocked in by heavy traffic so the only way onto the hard shoulder was to accelerate ever faster till he could find a gap. It was getting really hot behind the wheel and at about 80 mph his slipstream turned into a giant blowtorch, but he managed to get off the road, jump out and avert an explosive pileup. He always obliged when I asked him to tell that story and there was a crazed look in his eye which suggested he had enjoyed the experience. He was a lovely bloke and could find the humour in everything, but gentle and kind too…never had a bad word to say about anybody. Also it was clear even in competitions that he flew for the sheer pleasure of the adventure. Every day was different and new….results were of little consequence. Top bloke.
Gordon was one of life’s true gentlemen, with a zest for life few ever achieve. Boarding and skiing will never be the same without him, but I know he will watch and smile from above.
Myself & Rob have been very deeply saddened,along with our 4 children, to hear of Trevor’s (as we knew him)passing,we are both very shocked! We knew Trevor as Cheryl did,as an optician working in Lincolnshire.
Such a smashing guy,he lived for life & did more than many can ever hope to achieve!
We are thinking of him & his family @ this very sad time!
*Does anyone please have a family address we can write to?
When was/is the funeral???
Hi,I had a hunt around the internet & have found the
full address for forwarding all condolences –
Mr.Brian McGregor.
High Lugtonridge Farm,
Barrmill,
Beith,
Ayrshire.
KA15 1LD
*hope that helps some people?
Cheryl,if you want to contact us @
email granthamdiywi@ntlworld.com
Many thanks
Deb.
Hi, my names Ferlin. I am Gordons cousin from New Zealand.
I have been very interested in reading everyones comments.
Gordon touched many lives.
I had not seen Gordon for 18 years. But knew of his love for high risk sports. Me and my sister Ceilidh had alot of fun with him last time we were in Scotland.
Those days he was really into his absailing and water skiing.
I was looking forward to seeing Gordon in a couple of years when we come to Scotland again. Its true, he was atop bloke.
And will be sadly missed by so many.
Wish I had seen more of you over the years Gordon.
I will never forget you. Your cousin always Ferlin. 🙂
I would like to thank all the paragliders, colleagues and others who were my brother’s friends wherever he went.
His work as a locum optitian took him away from home for long spells and your friendship meant a lot to him.
Needless to say this website could not hold all the stories i would like to tell you about him.
Funeral: Gordon’s funeral is arranged for Tuesday April 28th at 3pm at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium at Dreghorn outside Irvine in Ayrshire, a few miles from Prestwick Airport. The nearest railway station, though not very near would be Irvine or Kilwinning on the Ayr line from Glasgow Central Station. Prestwick Airport is on the same railway line.
Thankyou for all your messages of sympathy to my family.
It has been a great comfort to me to read all the lovely memories you have of Gordon. He made friends so easily and I am just beginning to realise how many friends he had. He was a good friend, but you have also been good friends to him. We will all miss him greatly.
My heart goes out to those of you who were there on Corndon Hill with him. It must have been traumatic to see the accident happening and not be able to do anything about it. Thankyou for doing what you could for him and for calling in the emergency services.
Thankyou to those who came to the funeral, especially those who travelled long distances. It was good to have the support of so many of Gordon’s friends and the whole family appreciates it very much.
God bless you all.
I met Gordon in 98 on the side of a hill while we vwaited to fly and since that time we spent many a day flying and he became a close friend who think about everyday since his death. I live in Australia now and we always met up on my annual visits to Scotland. The last time was when we had a long lunch two weeks before he died. He will always be remember fondly by myself and my wife Lyndal and for years and for years to come a picture of the three of us on a hill in Luss has adorned our living room. See ya big guy.
David
I just found out that Gordon is dead, i had moved address and lost touch last year. I was good pals with gordon for 30years went to church together in West kilbride and Darvel. He was a great friend to me & my wife and kids.I wish i had known earlier, for me i know we will meet again because Gordon knew the Lord. God bless, Ian