Few people can claim to have acquired a private pilot’s licence at 17, going on to gain a full commercial licence by the age of 20, but this was a dream come true for Old Princethorpian, Jason Tebaldi, who died tragically in a motor accident on 16 February at the age of 29.

Jason joined Princethorpe College in 1989, from Telford School in Lillington and it was his unwavering ambition to become a pilot. As soon as he was old enough, he worked in his spare time as a cashier at petrol stations and in the local supermarket to get the necessary funds together to pursue his love of flying, much of which he did out of Coventry Airport.

As his former boss at London’s City Airport commented, “At the beginning of their careers, many commercial pilots spend their time flying old piston-engined aircraft carrying the mail, but this was not for Jason and he started on a Learjet!”

Jason is remembered as having the sunniest personality imaginable and as someone who always achieved what he set out to do. His infectious enthusiasm was boundless and he was always friendly, good humoured and great fun.

Mike Taylor also remembers his enthusiasm for sport. “Our regular hockey goalie was incapacitated and I asked Jason to go in goal which he did without protest. He turned into one of our best successes in helping to beat the opposition!”

Alex Darkes recalls, “Jason was one of those people who really made the job worthwhile. He had a great sense of direction and knew exactly what he wanted to get from life. I was delighted a few years back to fill in some paperwork to help him get security clearance when he went to collect a new plane from the States, which he would fly for a motor racing team. I remember thinking at the time just how happy he was with what he was doing and how well he had done.”

Several hundred people attended the service for the celebration of Jason’s life held in Princethorpe College chapel on 3 March, led by former Chaplain, Fr Joe McGee MSC, which was followed by a flypast in an historic RAF plane piloted by two of his close former colleagues. 

We send our deepest sympathy to Jason’s parents John and Sheila and to his family and friends.