It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Martyn John Charles Fiddler on Tuesday 14 May 2024.

Martyn was a larger-than-life figure in the business aviation world and had been involved in the industry for over 50 years.

From a very early age he discovered a passion for horses and helicopters (not necessarily activities you would put together).

He was extremely proud to have served with The Kings Troop Royal Artillery after leaving education.

A lot of people may know his story about Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, asking if he would “now please release her footman’s foot from under the hoof of his horse”!

Martyn said, even recently when retelling this story, how he was so embarrassed, went bright red, and apologised profusely to HRH, who simply smiled enigmatically at him.

After his 2 years serving, he was asked to train the horses for the Kings Troop and was seconded to Reading where he met his first wife, Jean(nie), and her young son Mark, when she was running a horse stable and pony club with her mother. Martyn and Jeannie married in the early 1960’s.

Martyn and Jeannie also ran a Connemara pony breeding stud (with Jeannie soon becoming a well-respected judge and travelling to Connemara events around Europe, always with Martyn).

The love of aviation came when he started work for BEA (British European Airways) at Gatwick Airport in the operations department where his organisational skills soon had him coordinating VIP flights and clients.

He often told the story of how his golden retriever dog used to go to work with him in his open-top sports car and had its own airside pass to allow him to be waved through security.

The family eventually moved to a small village near Stansted airport, Essex when Martyn was offered a job with Universal Aviation in operations on the business aviation side, at that time a relatively small industry.

In 1981 with Jeannie, and while still working at Universal, he set up Martyn Fiddler Associates Limited, offering aviation consultancy services to both fixed wing and rotary aircraft operators.  He soon became known as the go-to person for complex operational and, especially, customs issues and eventually left Universal to run his own businesses.

In the early 90’s Martyn was one of the people instrumental in getting the UK VAT exemption for the import of aircraft based on weight – zero-rating aircraft with a MTOW of 8,000 kgs (19,600 lbs).

He often told the story where Mr Fiddler, Mr Ferret and Mr Crook held meetings with UK HMRC Policy to put forward their case for getting more business aviation to and through the UK.  It clearly worked and for several years, aircraft operators from around the world came to the UK to obtain EU free circulation – we still work with clients today that remember doing this as far back as 20+ years ago.

He was the UK Customs trade representative on several committees and associations, allowing him direct access to HMRC Policy and decision makers.

He was rightfully very proud (but not boastful) of this and his many other achievements for business aviation in the UK.

As well as MFAL, in 1983 Martyn set up Helicopter and Aviation Services – perhaps better known as HASL – to operate mobile helicopter landing sites at many major UK sporting events (for example Royal Ascot, Cowes Week, and Silverstone Formula 1 for a few years, amongst other sporting events). With a small team of experts Martyn, Jeannie, and their son Mark for several years ensured a very smooth, professional operation for moving VIP clients to and from these events, working with all the UK heli operators.

Jeannie unfortunately died from cancer mid 2000 – not wanting to run the business without her Martyn sold HASL in 2001 but still retained a love of the business.

Around this time, Martyn started regularly attending international conferences such as NBAA in the States.  He would quietly sit at the back of the room listening to the various panels and, when discussion came to EU operations would politely stand and, in his most charming speaking voice (which could be heard around the room without the aid of a microphone), would make a valiant point regarding EU tax and customs issues that perhaps had not been considered by the panel.  Without fail, as soon as the session ended, he would be quickly surrounded by other delegates for further discussion / information.  Angie, who had joined the business in mid-2000, would suddenly be inundated with enquiries, calls and emails and the business started to grow.

MFAL moved from the converted garage at the side of the house, to first one small office at the facility of Inflite at Stansted, to eventually taking over several offices as the business and therefore the team grew.

Martyn married his second wife, Patricia, in early 2005 and moved to the south coast near Brighton.

2011 saw the change to UK VAT regulations and aircraft no longer could be zero-rated import VAT based on weight, but on the use of the aircraft.  Martyn took this as a challenge too far, and the opportunity to phase out his retirement from the business (which had some years previously been purchased by the ICM Group based in the Isle of Man).

He continued to represent the UK trade associations at Government level, and at conferences, and to look after 2 or 3 VVIP clients with their operational needs until a few short years ago.

Eventually he fully retired out of the business to spend the time with Patricia between the UK in the summer and their property in Cape Town, South Africa to escape the British winter.  They made many friends and had a great social life.  Martyn and Patricia travelled through South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho and Namibia.  The Rovos Rail’s infamous train journeys being Martyn’s favourite!

There are so many people Martyn helped and supported within the aviation industry; he was always ready for a chat and to give advice based on his own experiences and incredible knowledge.  He was always ready to make a call to one of his (many) contacts to help someone out.

He had a unique charm and a very diplomatic way of communicating.

He surrounded himself with fascinating people and was a passionate supporter of charities that had meaning for him including the Royal British Legion and the RNLI (amongst others).

His love of the military (especially the Kings Troop), horses, and aviation continued to the very end.

And let’s not forget his love of good food and wine!

He was extremely knowledgeable on so many subjects.  His memory was phenomenal, and he could (and did) hold lengthy discussions on nearly anything even up to a week before his passing.

He lived a long and interesting life and was never bored or boring.

He will be missed.