Remembering Stuart Marshall - 1941-2021

We are saddened to learn of the passing of John Stuart Marshall, former Airport Manager of Blackbushe Airport, over the weekend.

Stuart worked for the airport over three periods between 1962 and 2006, a career spanning 5 decades.  Stuart’s love for all things aviation started in the 1950s when he would ride his bicycle from Basingstoke up to Blackbushe to watch the airliners of the day.  He started working for the airport in 1962 as a member of the ground crew under then owner Air Vice Marshall Bennett.  Stuart then started training as an Air Traffic Controller, working full-time in the airport tower.  Later, Stuart moved to nearby Fairoaks Airport to work for Doug Arnold.

When Doug Arnold purchased the airfield in 1973, Stuart returned to Blackbushe as Airport Manager for 2 years.  He returned to Fairoaks until 1984 when British Car Auctions bought Blackbushe and he was again appointed Airport Manager, a role he held until his retirement in 2006.

Since retiring, Stuart has worked on the history of Blackbushe, compiling comprehensive accounts of the wartime years which he posted on the Blackbushe Forum.

Our condolences go out to Stuart’s wife Sandra, and the rest of his family.  Stuart will be remembered as a kind, devoted airport manager who played such an important part in the airport’s history for so many years.

Stuart Marshall (right) in 1992 as Airport Manager