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educated at St Michael?s School, Jersey and later at Gordonstoun Public School. It was during these early years that he developed his love of flying by building model aircraft. Instead of following his father into the Butlin empire, Bill satisfied his passion by paying his own way through the Oxford Air Training School, and graduating with a CAA commercial pilots licence.
He joined the Jersey European Airways in 1984; then in 1988 he transferred to Air Europe, based in Gatwick, so that he could fly jets. When this company went into receivership he had to choose between staying on the mainland and flying jets but not seeing his family for long periods or returning to Jersey and turbo props. His family was more important to him. When he got his Captaincy he was able to fly jets with the JEA, so finally he had the best of both worlds. He was a very active Vice Patron of the Royal International Air Tattoo-Flying School, founded in memory of Sir Douglas Bader, that trains disabled people to fulfil their ambition to fly.
Bill was not only a charming and very modest man but also a charitable person who achieved great things both professionally and as a loving family man. Above all he was always a perfect gentleman, a good friend and a proud Water Rat. His death, from cancer, at such a young age is a great tragedy for his wife, Jane, and children, Oliver, Hugo and Sacha, and all his many friends.
William Butlin Jnr
Companion Rat
educated at St Michael?s School, Jersey and later at Gordonstoun Public School. It was during these early years that he developed his love of flying by building model aircraft. Instead of following his father into the Butlin empire, Bill satisfied his passion by paying his own way through the Oxford Air Training School, and graduating with a CAA commercial pilots licence.
He joined the Jersey European Airways in 1984; then in 1988 he transferred to Air Europe, based in Gatwick, so that he could fly jets. When this company went into receivership he had to choose between staying on the mainland and flying jets but not seeing his family for long periods or returning to Jersey and turbo props. His family was more important to him. When he got his Captaincy he was able to fly jets with the JEA, so finally he had the best of both worlds. He was a very active Vice Patron of the Royal International Air Tattoo-Flying School, founded in memory of Sir Douglas Bader, that trains disabled people to fulfil their ambition to fly.
Bill was not only a charming and very modest man but also a charitable person who achieved great things both professionally and as a loving family man. Above all he was always a perfect gentleman, a good friend and a proud Water Rat. His death, from cancer, at such a young age is a great tragedy for his wife, Jane, and children, Oliver, Hugo and Sacha, and all his many friends.