Possibly after they had read my article CAPT. NOBBY BUCKLEY MEMORIAL DIVE AT EDITHBURGH JETTY , Loma Silsbury sent us these details: –
“After reading an article which mentioned ‘Nobby’ and his diving activities later in life, (I) thought you might like to know a little more of this incredible human being.
I remember very well the countless hours spent as a passenger in one or another of the manifold aircraft he flew.
(Source: SAAM Biography – BUCKLEY Noble Sydney Douglas (Nobby).pdf)
For a more expansive recitation of his exploits, please feel free to investigate the link https://www.saam.org.au/history_group_docs/SAAM%20Biography%20-%20BUCKLEY%20Noble%20Sydney%20Douglas%20(Nobby).pdf as this will relate in detail the saga far more eloquently than I.
Sufficient to say that among his other credits, he flew the very first DC3 into service and then flew the last one out of regular service in this country.
NOBLE (NOBBY) SYDNEY DOUGLAS BUCKLEY MBE, was a living legend perhaps best remembered by myself for his habit of flying with his fox terrier dog (Minty) who had full run of the aircraft and. . . .much to the chagrin of the hostesses and stewards, was permitted, when the aircraft was flying at 7,000 feet, to stand on Nobby’s lap with his head out of the open cockpit window. . .
My favourite recollection was, when leaving the territory, Nobby at the stick as usual, my Armah had packed a picnic meal for the family (it was after all a 24 hour flight) . . . Knowing my love of Nyamanka or Honey Pot Ants, she had included a large jar of these delicacies and, in order to keep them alive, had thoughtfully poked a number of holes in the paper which lidded the jar. We were headed south and nearing the Alice when the aircraft started to buck and lurch like a drunk in the wind. … Seat Belt sign flashed, and we held on for dear life. After a few hectic minutes of what we presumed were ‘air pockets’ induced by unanticipated thermals, Sandy, our steward backed out of the cockpit firmly holding Minty who was unceremoniously turfed into a carry box.
We were to discover, later, that Lilla’s well intentioned snack for this small person, had been less than escape proof and the Nyamanka had decamped into the cockpit area where, it automatically follows, Minty made it her business to recapture the escapees. … with dang near disastrous results. She had, apparently, been doing 360’s of the cockpit area, disengaged George (the auto Pilot) and creating havoc in her wake. Nobby took it in his stride and, after the remnant of the meal had been retrieved, offered to share the delicacy with me. Needless to say, father was not amused.
Nobby Buckley was my childhood hero and remains someone for whom I have profound respect and admiration.
Respectfully yours,
Loma Silsbury, nee Cox”
I see that there is a Nobby Buckley Drive named after Nobby at Parafield Airport. A photo of Nobby can be seen at Photographs of memorials and commemorations of the first England to Australia flight • Photograph • State Library of South Australia and Facebook.
I had previouslywritten about Nobby/Nobbie in some early Society newsletters. I later donated my file on him to the South Australian Historical Aviation Museum in both 1995 and 2017. As part of those donations, I found this little piece that I had written about Nobby: –
“Captain Nobbie Buckley
Captain Nobbie Buckley held a Senior Commercial Licence and had a notable career as a pilot. He logged over 26,000 hours of flying all over the world. He flew a variety of aircraft that may only be seen now in aviation museums.
At the age of 65 Nobbie took up SCUBA diving which he also did around the world. He dived around the Great Barrier Reef, the Canary Islands and the Pacific islands.
He was still diving at the age of 73 when I met him at Edithburgh. He joined my friends and I for a dive at the jetty there.
I recall him saying back then that the only sea that he had not dived in was the Dead Sea.
Nobbie also took up underwater photography withma Nikonos III camera and was a member of the Triton Diver Club in Adelaide.
He was a very popular identity within Adealide’s diving community and was a regular supporter of all worth-while functions.
Nobbie died in his sleep on 20th July 1981 at the age of 75. He had lived at Coromandel Valley and he and his wife Jess had three children – Graeme, John and Vicki.
At the time of his death the Triton Diver Club said that his support and encouragement to divers will long be remembered in South Australia, and he will be badly missed by many friends, many of whom are in their teens.”