RAF pilot and sportsman

FORMER RAF fighter pilot, long term Henley resident and member of Huntercombe Golf Club Denis Briggs died peacefully on December 23 aged 92.

Denis was born on a tea plantation in Jalpaiguri, India where his father was estate manager for many years. The family moved to Bedford in 1933 and Denis attended Bedford School becoming a talented cricketer and rugby player in both first teams.

After attending RAF College Cranwell, Denis was sent to Egypt to join 208 Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron. He flew missions across the Arabian Gulf and Near East and was stationed in Egypt, Aden, Cyprus and latterly Malta.

Whilst serving at RAF Fayid in the Suez Canal Zone, Denis met RAF nurse Nancy Maycock. Denis and Nancy married in New Milton in 1958 and subsequently settled in Henley in 1968 having spent the previous decade in Cyprus and Malta. The couple had three children — Elaine, Fiona and Jonathan.

After 16 years in the RAF, Denis retired in 1970 and joined Shell the same year. He worked there for 13 years before starting up a fine cognac business with Nancy in 1983. The family moved to Middle Assendon in 1984. Denis is survived by his two daughters and five grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at St James’s Church in Bix on Thursday at 2pm.