As both a keen amateur photographer and a glider pilot,
I am sure that I am as deeply saddened as anyone else,
to learn of the tragic death of Neil Lawson.

I did not know Neil personally, but his work was surely
an inspiration to the whole gliding community - with
apologies to other photographers, almost every published
photograph I have seen of a glider held the caption,
'The White Planes Picture Company'. Neil’s pictures
were certainly an inspiration to me as a photographer.

Neil Lawson had the dream job, he spent his time travelling
all over the world taking photos of aeroplanes and
gliders, it is what he lived, and ultimately died,
for. His images of our sport, however, will live for
many years to come.

I know only what I have read here and in the national
press about the circumstances surrounding his death,
so I will say just that he knew, as much as we all
know, that we partake in a sport which carries with
it the risk of accident. Neil was always prepared to
do what was needed to get the best possible pictures;
it is what he did for a living, and is what differentiated
his images from those of almost every other photographer
at gliding events. Last Tuesday evening, he found himself
in the wrong place at the wrong time, and for that
he paid the ultimate price.

I have read many comments on this forum about competition
finishes, and I shall leave the discussions about gates,
areas and cylinders to those who are more experienced
pilots than I, but the image of gliding in the wider
community is surely at stake here. Our friends and
families hardly hear about the British World Champions
- what they do hear about is the fatal accidents (type
'glider' or 'gliding' into the BBC News website search
if further proof be needed).

I am sure there must be a way of keeping the 'fun'
and excitement in competition gliding, whether that
is for competitors, spectators or photographers, without
risking any more lives to accidents such as this tragic
event.

The work of Neil Lawson was possibly world gliding's
greatest advertisement.

May he rest in peace.

Steve.