Inspiration behind Aerospace museum

OLIVER Dearden, OBE, a stalwart for 30 years of the Bristol Aero Collection and its successor, the Bristol Aero Collection Trust (BACT), has died aged 92, writes Peter Gibbs.

Oliver with his late wife, Mary, led the Collection and its many volunteers from the 1990s and the creation of Aerospace Bristol, recording more than 100 years of the city’s aviation history, is a testament to his singleminded devotion.

In July, 2017, the museum’s patron, Princess Anne, presented him with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which he received on behalf of his colleagues, and three months later he was present when Aerospace Bristol opened to the public.

Then in 2021’s New Year’s Honours list he was awarded the OBE for his services to cultural heritage in the aviation industry.

Sir Iain Gray CBE, chair of the BACT, paid tribute at the time to Oliver as one of the charity’s founding fathers.

“He has been instrumental in establishing the museum’s collection, preserving important objects to inspire future generations and celebrating Bristol’s many remarkable aerospace achievements.”

Oliver, who was born in Bolton, Lancashire, in September 1931, worked in the design office of the British Aircraft Corporation, before joining Avon County Council, where he was involved in road planning.

After he retired, he was encouraged by his equally active wife, Mary, to become involved in the direction and management of the Bristol Aero Collection (BAC).

The aim was to celebrate the civil and military aircraft, engines, helicopters, defensive missile systems, spacecraft and archives created by the Bristol Aeroplane Company family of enterprises.

Under his direction a volunteerrun museum was established at Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire, which attracted the public and an increasing number of volunteers, who were involved in both restoration projects and educating and informing the visitors and local primary schools.

With the retirement of Concorde from commercial operations by British Airways in 2003, Oliver was involved with the negotiation by Airbus to acquire Concorde Alpha Foxtrot and the organisation of its final flight into the Filton airfield.

Then, in addition to the Kemble museum, he masterminded BAC’s successful Concorde At Filton operation in the open air on Airbus property alongside the main runway.

There teams of volunteers welcomed visitors six days a week and it became established as the premier display of all Concordes, helping to earn substantial funds, which went towards establishing Aerospace Bristol.

When the £19 million museum and learning centre opened in October 2017, Alpha Foxtrot had been moved into a purpose-built hangar to become its star attraction.

In 2013/14 Oliver funded the purchase and major restoration of a First World War Bristol F2b Fighter in memory of his wife, Mary, and volunteers, who had since died, and it can now be seen in the museum above a replica aircraft.

Oliver retired from the board of the Bristol Aero Collection Trust in 2016 after 21 years as a director of the charity and its predecessor, BAC, but remained a valued volunteer and supporter.

Only this year he helped to sponsor a film, Concorde – First To Last, which tells the complete history of the supersonic airliner, and in that he is seen talking about his hopes for a Bristol aviation museum.

It is certain that without Oliver’s diligent direction and management of the BAC operations at both Kemble and Filton and his ability to motivate teams of volunteers over many years, Aerospace Bristol would not exist today to be enjoyed by its thousands of visitors.