TRIBUTES have been paid to a “gifted aviator” credited with helping to bring a historic aircraft back to the Island.
Peter “Willy” Weber, who died peacefully at Jersey Hospice last month, flew a variety of aircraft throughout his career.
The beloved husband, father and grandfather was also known as one of the main champions behind the campaign to bring a historic former Jersey Airlines De Havilland Heron – the Duchess of Brittany – back to the Island.
Mr Weber used to fly Heron planes similar to the Duchess back in the early 60s, but by the time he started to work for Jersey Airlines in 1963, the Duchess had been sold to the UK Ministry of Defence.
After the aircraft had a stint working routes between Gibraltar and Malta, Mr Weber and his fellow aviation enthusiasts bought the plane back to Jersey when it came up for auction in 1989.
After being used for sightseeing trips to France in the 90s and 2000s, the Duchess started suffering technical difficulties. Becoming harder to maintain from Jersey, the aircraft was sent to a hangar in Coventry belonging to another Island aviator.
More than a decade grounded in the hangar then followed – until a group of ambitious former pilots and aviation enthusiasts started their campaign to get her back in the skies.
After restoration that Mr Weber previously described as having “cost a proverbial arm and a leg”, he flew the Duchess back to her true home in 2018, alongside pilot Lee McConnell, who described it as a “privilege”.
Mr McConnell was among the many Islanders to pay tribute to Mr Weber following his death, describing him as a “wonderful gentleman”.
Matt Palmer later purchased the Heron to ensure it could be preserved.
Recalling his interactions with Mr Weber, he said: “He was a remarkable man and without his efforts and persistence to bring the Heron back to Jersey we would not even have the opportunity that we have now.
“I am very sorry to hear of his passing.”
Jim Buckley, who was chair of the Aero Club when Mr Weber was on the committee, said: “Captain Willy Weber was a consummate gentleman in every sense of the word and he was also a very gifted aviator, which was displayed in the way he approached his profession.”
Mr Buckley continued: “First officers and flight engineers who flew with him always described it as a pleasure and if he had to pass on his knowledge or advice it was always presented in a firm but gentle way backed up with solid reason.”
“There was one occasion when he had a minor accident. He was taxiing out at Abingdon in the Heron, keeping faithfully to the centre line, when his port wingtip just touched a grass bank. The Heron has a large wingspan and it was not his fault but it earned him the nickname ‘Wingtips Willy’. There was no damage to the aircraft.”
Mr Buckley added: “Willy Weber was a very kind man. He treated everyone he met equally and was always interested in what they had to say.
“He was clever and very wise, and had a great sense of humour. We are all going to miss him.”
Mr Weber leaves behind a wife, Diane, and two sons, James and Richard. He was also a proud grandfather to Rebecca, Sam, Amelia and Gus.
