DAVID SIMSFather-of-two David Sims died in a mid-air collision near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire on Sunday, December 16, 2007, while flying in an aeroplane he had spent years restoring.More than 100 people filled the chapel at Carmountside Crematorium in Stoke-on-Trent for the funeral of Mr Sims (67) on 3 January, 2008, joining his wife Doreen, and sons Mark and Mathew.Reverend David Watkin told how Mr Sims, of Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, had spent his life developing his engineering skills, both at work and in his spare time.He had recently bought and restored a Luscombe Silvair aircraft, after previously indulging his passion on model aeroplanes and classic cars.Mr Sims and his pilot friend, James Peter Leigh, were flying the plane when they collided with another aircraft and came down in fields at Rectory Farm, near Admaston in Staffordshire.Both Mr Sims and Mr Leigh, aged 60, of Clayton, died in the crash. The other plane involved in the collision made a successful emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, and the pilot and his two passengers were uninjured.The Air Accident Investigation Branch launched an inquiry into the accident.Mr Watkin said: "David was a skilled engineer and craftsman and an adventurer. He worked hard to restore classic motor vehicles, and he also had a love of aeroplanes and flying, which was there for all to see. He won many awards for his work in restoring machinery, cars and aircraft."David also loved to travel the world and find new experiences. He travelled in the U.S., in Egypt and elsewhere, always wanting to see the world from all its different angles."Mr Sims was born in Burslem, andwas educated at Stanfield Technical High School, where he first developed his engineering skills.He worked as an engineer/production controller at GEC Milehouse, in Newcastle, from 1956, before going on to work at C & K Precision Engineers, in Stoke, until his retirement two years ago.His family released a statement expressing their pride at his various achievements. The family said: "David restored a number of classic cars to very high exacting standards, and in one instance the editor of a national classic car magazine bought one of the restorations and ran a monthly report on its progress."He was popular with friends and work colleagues, was quick-witted with a dry sense of humour, and willing to give of his time to help others, encouraging and supporting younger work colleagues in the same way he had encouraged and supported his sons, Mark and Mathew."Retirement had given David and his wife Doreen the opportunity to enjoy holidays abroad and a shared love of cruising, but he still made time to concentrate on various DIY projects."
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