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| George Cull obituary | George Cull obituary |
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| My friend and former colleague George Cull, who has died aged 89, had a deep knowledge of all types of aircraft and of model-making. | My friend and former colleague George Cull, who has died aged 89, had a deep knowledge of all types of aircraft and of model-making. |
| George was born in Highgate, north London, to Cleophas Cull, a racing mechanic, and his wife, Louisa (nee Green). During his childhood George developed an interest in model-making, steam engines, vintage cars and, particularly, aircraft. | George was born in Highgate, north London, to Cleophas Cull, a racing mechanic, and his wife, Louisa (nee Green). During his childhood George developed an interest in model-making, steam engines, vintage cars and, particularly, aircraft. |
| The bombing of London during the second world was at its height during his time at Finchley County school and George ran an aircraft recognition club. This was encouraged as part of the war effort as students were taught to recognise, from photos and silhouettes, both friendly and enemy aircraft. He was a schoolboy athlete and could still do cartwheels and handstands in his 70s. | The bombing of London during the second world was at its height during his time at Finchley County school and George ran an aircraft recognition club. This was encouraged as part of the war effort as students were taught to recognise, from photos and silhouettes, both friendly and enemy aircraft. He was a schoolboy athlete and could still do cartwheels and handstands in his 70s. |
| In 1945 he joined Aeromodeller magazine as a trainee. National service in the RAF sent him to India, and by early 1947 he was repairing Dakota aircraft. On discharge he eagerly rejoined Aeromodeller at Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. There he met Jean Thorpe and they married in 1952. | In 1945 he joined Aeromodeller magazine as a trainee. National service in the RAF sent him to India, and by early 1947 he was repairing Dakota aircraft. On discharge he eagerly rejoined Aeromodeller at Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire. There he met Jean Thorpe and they married in 1952. |
| George’s regular monthly article in Aeromodeller entitled Aircraft Described, written under his byline of GA Cull, was a must-read. George left the magazine to work as a technical draughtsman on the Blue Streak guided missile programme at English Electric, Stevenage, later moving to Hampshire to take up a post with Sir Christopher Cockerell at Hovercraft Development Ltd. From there he went to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall as editor of Air Clues, a magazine for RAF personnel. | George’s regular monthly article in Aeromodeller entitled Aircraft Described, written under his byline of GA Cull, was a must-read. George left the magazine to work as a technical draughtsman on the Blue Streak guided missile programme at English Electric, Stevenage, later moving to Hampshire to take up a post with Sir Christopher Cockerell at Hovercraft Development Ltd. From there he went to the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall as editor of Air Clues, a magazine for RAF personnel. |
| George soon tired of commuting to London, so applied to become an editor at the Building Research Establishment in Garston, Hertfordshire, where I worked alongside him. He moved to Buckinghamshire, and spent more than five years building a timber-frame cedarwood house that he and Jean lived in until 1999. | George soon tired of commuting to London, so applied to become an editor at the Building Research Establishment in Garston, Hertfordshire, where I worked alongside him. He moved to Buckinghamshire, and spent more than five years building a timber-frame cedarwood house that he and Jean lived in until 1999. |
| In his spare time George had learned to fly. As a member of Stevenage Flying Club he was part-owner of a Tiger Moth and Jackaroo biplanes. At one time he also owned two small Tipsy light aircraft. | In his spare time George had learned to fly. As a member of Stevenage Flying Club he was part-owner of a Tiger Moth and Jackaroo biplanes. At one time he also owned two small Tipsy light aircraft. |
| In 1977, George was invited to Australia to produce a cutaway drawing of the Avro Avian biplane that was used for Bert Hinkler’s 1928 pioneering solo flight from Britain to Australia, then suspended high in a Queensland museum. Subsequently the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Bundaberg, invited him to supervise the reconstruction of Hinkler’s floatplane, the Ibis, having found the only existing plans drawn by George in a 1947 copy of Aeromodeller. | In 1977, George was invited to Australia to produce a cutaway drawing of the Avro Avian biplane that was used for Bert Hinkler’s 1928 pioneering solo flight from Britain to Australia, then suspended high in a Queensland museum. Subsequently the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Bundaberg, invited him to supervise the reconstruction of Hinkler’s floatplane, the Ibis, having found the only existing plans drawn by George in a 1947 copy of Aeromodeller. |
| In 1983, George, with two members of the flying club and their wives as support drivers, fulfilled a dream by flying and photographing the Oregon Trail, the passage used by early American settlers, from Missouri to Oregon. | In 1983, George, with two members of the flying club and their wives as support drivers, fulfilled a dream by flying and photographing the Oregon Trail, the passage used by early American settlers, from Missouri to Oregon. |
| George was always happiest at his old-style drawing board, preferring to draw on linen rather than the desktop publishing equipment that appeared in the office. Christmas cards were crammed with news in his draughtsman’s handwriting. | George was always happiest at his old-style drawing board, preferring to draw on linen rather than the desktop publishing equipment that appeared in the office. Christmas cards were crammed with news in his draughtsman’s handwriting. |
| He is survived by Jean, their two daughters, Rebecca and Alison, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. | He is survived by Jean, their two daughters, Rebecca and Alison, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. |
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