Family pay tribute to Droitwich pilot killed in North Sea helicopter crash
“We visited Aberdeen on Friday and queued with others to sign the Book of Condolences at the Kirk of St Nicholas in the heart of Aberdeen to share our grief with the other families and to support a community which has been devastated by this tragedy.”
Richard’s former headteacher also paid tribute to the young pilot describing him as a “wonderful young man.”
Clive Corbett, who is still head of Pershore High School in Worcestershire, said Richard had been a pupil at the school from 1997 until 2003.
“He was a wonderful young man. He was an independent-minded soul but fully involved in the life of the school.
When I found that the news was correct, I phoned round some former staff because three of them had been Richard’s teachers in the sixth form.
“The best tribute I can pay to him is that they knew the person I was talking about instantly and we have more than 1,000 pupils.
“We share the tragic loss of the family. I would like to pass my condolences on to Laura and her father.”
“We have got our flag at half-mast in Richard’s memory and we very much want to extend our sympathies to all the family.”
It is believed Richard’s body was among those recovered yesterday afternoon by specialist divers.
Eight victims of the tragedy were recovered soon after the accident and another seven were found yesterday by divers on a support vessel 13 miles off the coast.
“As a result of the ongoing effort, seven of the remaining eight victims have been recovered by divers onto a vessel at the scene,” Grampian Police confirmed in a statement.
“It is believed likely that two of those recovered are the pilot and co-pilot, Paul Burnham and Richard Menzies.
