2012-01-05-Express

LOSS: The former Dover Grammar School Combined Cadet Force member, RAF Squadron Leader Anthony Downing, died following an explosion in Afghanistan

AN RAF squadron leader and former Dover Grammar School for Boys pupil has died after his patrol vehicle hit an explosive device in Afghanistan.

Squadron Leader Anthony Downing, known as Ant to friends, was seriously wounded on December 22 when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in the explosion-south of Kabul.

The 34-year-old was flown back to the UK where he died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham the following day His family were at his bedside.

In a statement, Squadron Leader Downing’s family have spoken of his determination and love of physical challenge, which persuaded him to join the Dover Grammar School Combined Cadet Force, Velo Club Deal and Deal Striders cycling and running clubs as a teenager.

They said: “Anthony was still a child when he announced that he wished to join the RAF. From a young age it was evident that he was dedicated and self-motivated to achieve the goals he would set himself.

“As a member of the Dover Grammar School Combined Cadet Force, he was committed to getting the most out of the organisation and encouraged others to do so too.

“At the age of 17 he joined the Deal Striders and Velo Club Deal, which started a lifelong love of endurance events that culminated in completing ultra marathons and double ‘ironmans’.

“He also took to distance events in swimming and cycling and had planned to compete in the 2013 Arch to Arc event, despite swimming being his weakest discipline, the event requiring a cross-channel dip.

“His parents had an easy ride with his upbringing. He was always kind and helpful, although quiet and reserved.

“He continued these traits into his working life, keen to listen, help and inspire others to travel and reach for high goals. We treasure the memories and the achievements of his fantastic life and without him our lives have been diminished.”

The former Pegasus project volunteer announced his intention to join the RAF when he was just five and won an RAF sixth form scholarship at 17. He learnt to fly at Manston and gained a pilot’s licence for a Cessna before he passed his road driving test.

At Bath University the keen cyclist, who once rode from Bath to Kingsdown in one day to visit his parents, studied aeronautical engineering, winning an RAF scholarship for the second and third years. His family say that at initial officer training in Cranwell “Anthony quickly learnt that the best way of keeping the bed ready for inspection was to sleep on the floor and use his car as a wardrobe.”

Squadron Leader Downing later studied at the Defence School of Languages and travelled to Tajikistan in his own time to further his studies.

His interest in Afghanistan and the people of the country led to his intimate involvement in the planning and carrying out of outreach patrols.

It was while on patrol that the keen mountaineer and linguist, from Kingsdown, was caught in the explosion which led to his death. His colleague, Royal Marine Captain Tom Jennings, died in the blast.

Paying tribute, Warrant Officer Chris Miles MBE, said: “As his Warrant Officer I had the honour and privilege to serve under the truly exceptional and inspirational leadership of Squadron Leader Ant Downing throughout his tour of duty as the Senior Engineering Officer on the Nimrod Line Squadron at RAF Kinloss. Both as an Aeronautical Engineer and as an Officer Commanding he was, at all times and without exception, the consummate professional.

“As one of those rare individuals who genuinely always put the interests of others above himself, he held the deserved respect and admiration of all those who had the good fortune to work alongside him.

“Outside of work he was an outstanding athlete, a passionate mountaineer and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.

“Through this tragedy we have lost one of the most gifted and personable individuals I have ever had the privilege to know. In every sense of the word he was a true comrade, one of ‘the very best’ who will be sadly and fondly missed but never, ever forgotten.”