Graham Mallinson, 1942 - 2015

As many of you will now know, Graham Mallinson was among the eleven victims of the Shoreham air disaster. Although some of you may not have known Graham, he was my friend for over fifty years and well known around Sheffield Park as a life member of the Bluebell, and a volunteer in the museum photographic archive team, a passionate steam enthusiast and brilliant photographer.

Educated at Dulwich College, when I first met Graham in the early 1960's he was working with Tannoy the world famous public address systems company. Moving on he held various posts in the electronics industry until his retirement. As a highly respected engineer, Graham was a perfectionist in everything he did, in his work, his private life and his hobbies.

Railway photography was Graham's first love, he and I drove thousands of miles throughout the UK in pursuit of both steam in British Railways days and after steam finished, preserved steam locomotives operating on the main line. These happy carefree days will now never be repeated but the memories will still live on. More recently he had developed an interest in photographing vintage aircraft and it was this that took him to Shoreham to see one of the last flights of the Vulcan bomber.

Graham was the kindest and most generous man, who regularly gave his time to help others. Always loyal and reliable he was a private and loving family man, with a great sense of humour. A caring husband to his late wife Wendy and a father who was dearly loved by both his son Anthony and his sister Anthea and her partner Mike. He will be sorely missed by all his family and his wide circle of friends at the Bluebell Railway and within the railway photographic world, along with all those who had the good fortune to have known him.

He was at the right place at the wrong time when this disaster happened, doing what he loved best on a beautiful summer's day. Rest in peace my old friend, you gave me such wonderful memories and such a long and lasting friendship.

Our thoughts go out to Anthony, Anthea and Mike and all the family and friends and of course all the other families involved in this terrible tragedy.

Roger Cruse

Graham's funeral was on Thursday 12th November at St Mary's Church in Newick at 2pm, followed by a private family committal.

Donations given in Graham's memory are being collected through MemoryGiving, for The Bluebell Railway Trust, specifically for the "Brighton Atlantic Project".