If you would like to contribute a story or memory to be shared below, please send to Pete’s daughter Nic (nicalrae@gmail.com)
A memory from John Tye
I’ve been in touch with Laura and sent her some copies of my book, Life of a Concorde Pilot. You’ll read how, apart from being bloody good fun, Pete had a most influential effect on me when I was a 19 year old working in The Aircraft Library at BA.
He rented a house close to where I lived with my parents, in Elizabeth Gardens, Sunbury-on-Thames, and we would frequent the Magpie pub close by, where Pete and Chris Hawkes were popular with Brian, the landlord, such that closing time became a bit of a variable feast. By spending time with Pete and Chris I soon learnt that this airline pilot lark was fun on and off the aeroplane and I was inspired to work hard and follow in Pete’s footsteps.
Pete, Chris, Jerry McKenna and I had a fantastic holiday in Mombasa and Malindi in early 1978. I had visions in my head of some wonderful photographs tucked away in the loft, but having been clambering about up there just now, this is the only one I can find, very faded I’m afraid.
The last time I saw Pete was in Singapore shortly before he retired. We played pool and figured it was probably 35 years since our last match in a pub in Lower Sunbury. The last time I spoke with him, he was having dreadful problems with his hip, but was determined to make it to Nic’s wedding. I’m so pleased he did.
Your dad inspired many people. We never flew together on the 777 because we were both captains, but whenever the name ‘Pete Rae’ cropped up in conversation, the word ‘legend’ quickly followed. I need say no more.
A memory from Peter Rae (yes, there are two!)
For most of our lives Peter and I lived in different countries, separated by the paths and opportunities that life and fate presented but ever since that very first freakish encounter on a family holiday in Aigua Blava 53 years ago, we have shared not only our names but also an unbreakable bond and friendship that I shall forever treasure. In our adult years Peter’s illustrious career as a BA pilot and mine in international finance ensured that there were nonetheless countless opportunities for us to meet up in various parts of the world and to share laughs and great times together that are too many to recount here.
However, I do want to share one particular episode from September 1983 that will give you a flavour of those wonderful times. On hearing that business was taking me to New York, Peter pulled some strings and arranged for me to not only upgrade to a seat on Concorde, but for that seat to be on the flight deck for the entire crossing -an unforgettable experience. Now as luck would have it, Peter was on a layover in New York during my stay which also happened to coincide with Australia wresting away the America’s Cup from the USA after the latter’s 134 years of dominance. Peter and decided this was a golden opportunity to have some laughs at the expense of the trumped up NY art gallery market. So armed with heavy Australian accents, we trawled the galleries in NY’s Soho district pretending to be crew from that victorious Australian boat out to buy a commemorative present for Alan Bond the owner of the Australian cup winning team. Needless to say with all the press hype surrounding Australia’s win each unsuspecting gallery plied us with champagne and nibbles as we viewed the paintings on display. Of course we were never able to quite make up our minds about a suitable gift before hastily and apologetically exiting to find our next victim. Needless to say by the end of the evening we couldn’t tell a Warhol from an A—hole. A truly precious memory amongst so many others that will be with me forever.
A memory from Susie , Peter, and Maryanne: Your wonderful irreplaceable Dad
I remember hearing laughter coming from the pool bar area and taking a closer look I saw what I presumed to be a family with a teenage boy who was telling jokes resulting in everyone laughing uncontrollably. That was the first time I saw the Rae family and Pete.
The hotel was holding a swimming gala and my brother and I both signed up for I think two lengths back Crawl and butterfly, The next morning our names were crossed out and we had been entered in the I width egg and spoon race instead, we crossed our names out and reinstated the original events. The next day was a repeat and this went on for a few days. When the gala day arrived I heard my name called up for egg and spoon I went up to the compere and informed him that I hadn't put my name down for this event, he pointed at a girl and said that is Sue Rae and I said no Im Susie Rae! you can tell where this is going..... My brother is called Peter and we now understood to much merriment what had happened.
We had so much fun and from that day on we became firm friends.
Pete has been part of our lives for 53 years he's been the toastmaster at our family weddings, and big birthdays, and has been a support, especially to my brother when we lost our little sister who adored Pete.
Not only did we get to have Pete in our lives but when he met wonderful Toni, we were doubly blessed.
I'll never forget when Pete turned up at my and my then-husband's door with this smiley, beautiful girl with long auburn waist-length hair., and the biggest backpack pack I'd ever seen on her shoulders. Pete had hit the jackpot !!
We are all poorer for losing him, but there are so many memories of this much-loved kind, and funny man that we will keep forever and smile when we suddenly remember at a random moment something he said or did that made us laugh.
A memory from Roz Parkinson
Pete and Toni were the first friends Nick introduced me to, when we met back in 2005. It was a Saturday afternoon, we popped into Ashcroft House where we were met with a very warm welcome.
The conversation flowed and we were soon tucking into a bottle of wine, followed by a viewing of ‘The Making of a Pilot’ starring a young Pete Rae. A marvellous production and although not officially a comedy, it soon had us rocking back and forth with laughter. From there I was welcomed into the ‘Inner Circle of Trust’, a privilege, and one that Nick never enjoyed, due to his lack of understanding of Thomas the cat; or so I believe.
Pete had the most wonderful sense of humour and the biggest, caring heart. Always happy to help…. my washing machine filter, but there’s another tale. We shall miss you dearly Pete, thank you for being you X
A memory from Nick Parkinson
There are too many hilarious stories to tell about my great friend Pete the Pilot. I first met him when I took over the local Pub in Paley Street, his village , and our friendship started from there. He called the pub HQ and would often pop in after his flight for a nightcap even though it was 9 am As Pete would say “it’s always midday somewhere in the world”.Our relationship blossomed over the years with Xmas and Ascot parties at Sheepcote House to countless nights out somewhere or other always ending with a hangover. He was a generous and kind man who you could always rely on .
On my Stag weekend to Newcastle, he and his great friend Dougie Gass were the treasurers of the event .Responsible for 40 drunk mens drinking bills was a thankless task but they managed to make it fun.
I will miss my friend enormously and I treasure the last few weeks when Dougie had his Chicken wings lunches where Pete, Dougie, Bellie and I would put the world to rights…over a bottle of red of course.
A memory from Lynne Clopet: The one and only Pete
Such fun. So many laughs. One of the many stories.
Four of us decided to go on a floatilla holiday to Yugoslavia, with a couple of days in Venice before. “But we’ve never sailed Pete - except perhaps a bit of windsurfing” “ Not a problem” says Pete, “ just read this”. The Ladybird Book of Sailing! It’ll be fine. “Four of us will manage a boat between us.”
OK. Until we reached the floatilla and the instructor had great news. “Not many takers this week guys so you have a boat each”. “ No, you’re alright thanks” Phew. Fantastic week.
And the bird poo on your jacket at your wedding in Newcastle.
Blue skies my dear friend. Thanks for the memories.
A memory from Chris T-H: Damsel in distress
Another example of Peter’s kindness and generosity. After the collapse of Air Europe in 1991 I went to fly for a French airline based in Paris. I was night stopping in Lyons when late one afternoon I received a frantic telephone call from my wife to say that she had returned home to our house in Cobham only to find that it had been broken into.
What could I do from Lyons but ring my mate Pete, who was studying for his B767 simulator detail early the following morning, and explained Kim’s distress. Without any hesitation he said 'ok I am on to it’. He got in his car and selflessly drove the hour to Cobham that evening secured the house and made sure that Kim was safe and secure, before returning home late in the evening.
A memory from Chris T-H: Shortest Thames cruise ever!
In September 2018 Kim and I hired a river cruiser on the Thames, and the plan was to pick Toni and Pete up at Maidenhead for lunch on the boat and an afternoon of cruising on the Thames. This cruiser had just one engine and bow thrusters to help steer the boat. Dispatch was allowable under the MEL with unserviceable bow thrusters which was indeed the case. (Minimum equipment list).
The first day and overnight went according to plan and on day 2 we were to pick Pete and Toni up from just upstream of the Maidenhead bridge. There he is in the picture with a case of beer. All went well having picked them up, for the first 200 metres, until Peter politely suggested that I might have been on the sauce as the boat did not seem to be going in a straight line. As we approached Boulters Lock he was convinced that I had been on the sauce as I was unable to navigate the boat into the lock. I must have tried half a dozen times without success, to the amusement of joe public watching from the road above and finally gave up and moored the boat downstream of the lock.
We proceeded to call the engineers who promptly arrived, and on inspection announced that a sheer pin attaching the tiller to the rudder had indeed sheered and as I had no bow thrusters, no means at all of steering this boat.
We thought oh well let’s just enjoy our lunch on the boat whilst the engineers fixed the steering which meant getting into the water and underneath the stern of the boat. Unfortunately that blocked the entrance to the kitchen where our tasty lunch remained uneaten. After about three hours the wet stores were exhausted and it was time for Pete and Toni to leave not having had any lunch, and achieved maybe 400 metres rudderless cruising on the Thames !
Memories from Linda Hirst
In the late 70’s I was very fortunate to share a house in Lower Sunbury with your dad and Chris T H. “Lizzie Gardens” as it was affectionately known was one big party house, there will be many S/H pilots that will remember raucous times there!!!!
Parties usually started with a Screwdriver, ( vodka and pineapple juice) Never can forget the taste!! There were not only parties but serious card games that went on into the small hours. I would come down in the morning to find bodies sprawled on every available chair, empty bottles of Port and cries for breakfast!! Life was so much fun with you dad around. He would light up a room with his presence and his mischievous smile.
If your dad and Chris weren’t flying they could be found at The Admiral Hawk, a watering hole on the bank of the Thames in Sunbury or at the rugby grounds of London Irish just up the road. Another favourite haunt was Trader Vic’s, at the Hilton Hotel in London. I still have their trademark cocktail sticks.
Your mum was introduced to you dad through some friends of mine. They had met her on a flight when she 1st came over to the UK. The rest as they say is history.
Can never forget their wedding in Newcastle. It would have been a darn sight easier to go to the Newcastle in the northern hemisphere but decidedly not as much fun. The hospitality was amazing. I’m so sad at your dad’s early departure but know that he will have left indelible memories for all those that knew him.
A memory from Gordon Black
I’ve known your Dad since Hamble in 1973. We played football together, both at Hamble, and subsequently for the pilot’s team in the local Slough league in the late ‘70s, and early ‘80s. We had many a laugh on a football pitch.
There are probably many funny stories involving Pete but I’ve sent you a quotation from a speech I made at our recent 60th Course Re-union at Oxford in April. He was unable to attend but made sure we all had a drink on him (Typical Pete). I spoke on behalf of 731B and sent him a copy of the speech afterwards. I asked if he recognised anyone in it, and yes, he owned up immediately; it was him.
"Now, a quick story from final exams: NAV Plotting. I remember sitting in rows in the cricket pavilion with the huge map in front me. As I worked through the question, I couldn’t help but notice that one of our midst beside me across the aisle was trying to plot a fix in the middle of the aforesaid aisle, using his metre long ruler, and a twelve inch plastic ruler, triangulating from his desk top. My instinct told me one of us had made a mistake, but I reassured myself that at least I was still on the map and the desktop.”
We laughed about it immediately after the exam, and I think he still passed at his first attempt. (Marks for method rather than accuracy….. just like on an aeroplane!)
Your Dad was a great bloke with a heart of gold. He worked hard to get through Hamble, as did we all, but he always retained his sense of humour. One was never bored in his company.
I am proud to have known him as a friend and professional colleague. Apart from yourselves, he’ll be missed by many others.
A memory from Chris T-H: Always the Joker
I remember well how much Peter enjoyed the Trident 1 E operations, back in the early eighties with all the sociable nightstops and parties in Newcastle upon Tyne, so I was not surprised that when he asked me to be his best man at his wedding he said that he was getting married in Newcastle.
Only when I had accepted, did he tell me that he meant Newcastle New South Wales Australia, quite a challenge for me as I had just left BA and had no staff travel concessions. I managed to get there with a week to spare having been offloaded from Garuda for a five night stay in Bali.
Having got suited and booted, for the wedding whilst waiting for Toni to arrive it was so hot that we decided to shelter from the sun under a tree. Surprise surprise a huge Australian bird opened its bowels and splattered the shoulders of Pete’s smart grey wedding suit. We managed to get some water cleaned the mess off and stood in the sun to dry the suit off. No wonder Pete was sweating when Toni arrived !
A memory from Chris T-H: We got away with that one but sadly someone did not !
In the late seventies Colin Chapman who headed up Lotus racing team competing in the formula 1 Grand Prix, was sponsored by JPS a cigarette company, and his racing cars along with his aeroplanes were painted in a very striking black and gold colour scheme.
I was approached to fly his wife and some team members down to Nice for the Monaco Grand Prix. The aeroplane to be used was a Cessna Golden Eagle which both Pete and I had flown before.
The night before, we were told that the aeroplane had been changed to a Piper Navajo that neither of us had experience on. We got hold of a Pilot Operators Handbook, and the idea was that I would fly and Pete would read the handbook to tell me what speeds I should fly and the appropriate power settings.
We set off very early from Sunbury-on Thames, where we were sharing a house, for Hethel near Norwich for a morning departure. Having arrived we found a smart looking black and gold aeroplane with a flat tyre and flat battery.
Fortunately for us Colin Chapman’s wife had a birthday party the night before and was suffering, so wanted to delay the departure until early afternoon, which gave us time to get the battery charged and pump up the tyre. When we had the battery charged we were able to fire up the instruments, to see early glass cockpit instrumentation that we had never seen before. We spent the next three hours learning from the pilot’s operating handbook how to interpret them.
We finally got airborne from Hethel at about 2 30 pm, having used the full length of the runway and with the stall warning going ! Who knows what the team members had put in their baggage.
All went well flying through France with Pete passing me the information from the handbook, until we realised that we really did not have sufficient fuel to get to Nice. We landed at Lyons by now feeling very tired and proceeded to uplift fuel, which we had difficulty paying for.
We then departed for Nice and during cruise suffered an auto pilot runaway, where the autopilot does its own thing and puts on a load of bank and dives the aeroplane towards the ground ! Having disconnected the autopilot and continued flying manually, as it became dark we noticed that the cockpit lighting was getting dimmer and dimmer. Maybe the alternators had not been charging the battery and that is why it had been flat before we left Hethel. Finally arriving at Nice, very tired, Peter politely pointed out on the approach that I was lined up with the brightly lit Promenade des Anglais rather than the runway.
Off we went to a hotel and telephoned Colin Chapman and told him that that his smart looking aeroplane was a bag of worms and that we would not be taking it back to Hethel the following day. We abandoned the aeroplane and returned to the UK scheduled service.
Several months later we learned that the aeroplane crashed in the UK, and the suspected cause was an auto pilot run away, which made us wonder if any rectifying maintenance had ever been done on the aeroplane after we reported the fault.The picture on the left is the plane we knew how to fly, the picture on the right is the one we learnt how to fly on the way to Nice !
A memory from Chris T-H: The Night Peter Lifted the European Cup
I could probably write a book on the escapades that I had with your father. Here is one from 46 years ago :-
The 1976–77 season of the European Cup football club tournament was won for the first time by Liverpool in the final against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
As you well know your Dad’s team was Liverpool and he and I managed to get press tickets for the European Cup Final to be played in Rome.
The first bit of luck we had was when the aircraft that we flew down on, destination Naples, diverted due weather to Rome. Great for Pete and I but not for the other 100 other passengers !
Not only did Pete’s team win the match 3 - 1 but we managed to find out where the team were having their celebrations. We rocked up at the Rome Holiday Inn, and pretending to be Press gate crashed the formal dinner where the players were partying. There was a bunch of players having their photographs taken holding up the European Cup, and Pete went up behind them and grabbed hold of one of the handles. Suddenly those players returned to their seats leaving Peter holding the European cup aloft. I have searched high and low but cannot find the blurred photograph. We both got carried away and got players, Kevin Keegan, Emilyn Hughes, David Johnson , Phil Neal and guests Denis Law to autograph our passports.
The party went well on through the night and as we had nowhere to stay we crashed out in the hotel grounds. We awoke to a blue sky but soaking wet ! We had crashed out under the rhododendrons next to an automatic sprinkler which had come on ! Your Dad was a remarkable guy and will be sadly missed !
