Drone 100ft from aircraft about to land
Gorden’s girls pay tribute as ’Allo ’Allo! star is laid to rest
A DRONE came within 100ft of hitting a Flybe passenger flight as it was about to land.
Flybe declined to reveal further details of the nearmiss at Southampton Airport on Monday. An airport spokeswoman said: “We can confirm a drone incident was reported on February 13 by an aircraft inbound to the airport.
“There was no direct risk to the aircraft or passengers.”
Police searched the area but could find no trace of the drone or its owner.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s UK Airprox Board is investigating. Some 59 nearmisses involving drones were reported last year.
HE played Rene Artois, a French bar owner with a tangled love life.
But when Gorden Kaye’s girls turned up to bid a final farewell, all was sweetness and light.
Kim Hartman, Vicki Michelle and Sue Hodge starred alongside Gorden in hit French Resistance telly comedy ’Allo ’Allo!
And they were among 200 friends and family who packed Huddersfield Parish Church for the proud Yorkshireman’s funeral in his home town yesterday
Vicki, 66, who played saucy waitress Yvette Carte Blanche, said: “Gorden was loved by everyone, all over the world. The programme was a wonder. We were all such good friends and would play naughty pranks on each other. They were good times.
“Gorden was just so funny and a brilliant person to work with. It was almost like we were married.”
Sue, 59, who starred as Yvette’s rival Mimi Labonq, said: “He was fantastic.
“I say to people, if you want to learn comedy, get some repeats of ’Allo ’Allo! and watch Gorden.”
Kim Hartman, 65, played German private Helga Geerhart in the series. She said: “Gorden had a very infectious laugh. We all had such a great time working together. He’ll be sadly missed.”
The Bafta-nominated actor, who suffered from dementia, died last month, aged 75, in a nursing home. At its height ’Allo ’Allo! – which ran from 1982 to 1992 – was watched by more than 16 million people an episode.
Former Coronation Street star Ken Morley, 74, who played General Leopold von Flockenstuffen in the BBC sitcom, said of Gorden: “He was just hilarious. He could make you laugh and have you on the floor.”
The vicar of Huddersfield, the Rev Simon Moor, said Gorden had returned to live in Yorkshire. He said: “It was where he started in life and it’s where he wanted to end.”
Close friend Keith Simmons, who had spoken to Gorden shortly before his death, said: “He said he felt he didn’t have long to live.”
But rather than feel sorry for himself, he then told his pal: “Listen, if you are feeling downhearted I am sorry to hear it. But you probably know someone more downhearted than you. Go and cheer them up – it’s not that hard.”