Tributes fly in as airport icon passes away

Wednesday 06 May 2020

Tributes have flown in for an airport icon whose friendly face welcomed hundreds of thousands of travellers to the island – and even nearly landed a rugby team in court.

Brian Gale passed away peacefully this week.

Over the years, he took on numerous jobs, employed as a porter at Jersey Airport, as well as working for Air UK, before retiring. 

But Brian will perhaps be best remembered for lending his cheery grin to a ‘Taxis this way’ cardboard cut-out sign, which for many years met passengers in the Arrivals Hall.

Pictured: Brian's cheery grin welcomed islanders in Jersey Airport's Arrivals Hall.

So well-known did his smile become that many islanders would ask for selfies with him in his famous pose when they bumped into him in town.

One visiting rugby team took things a step further – deciding to nab ‘Brian’ and use him as a mascot on a pub crawl around St. Helier.

According to pilot Lee McConnell, the trip nearly landed the group before a Magistrate, but, in the end, the cut-out was returned to the Airport, and the sportsmen made a donation to charity as recompense.

Following the weekend of drama, the real Brian apparently couldn’t understand why people said they had seen him out and about when he was working.

Pictured: A passenger poses with Brian's iconic sign. (Gordon Shoosmith/Alamy)

The cut-out is sadly no longer around, but the memories of Brian and his alter-ego are still incredibly vivid to Mr McConnell, who described him to Express as a “happy-go-lucky character”, who is “fondly remembered by all of the Jersey Airport staff”. 

“He always had a smile and was happy to chat to anyone, hence the reason his image was used as a welcome figure in the airport arrival hall – well-remembered by the ladies for his chiselled looks,” he said.

Many islanders took to the ‘Jersey Airport of Yesteryear’ Facebook group to share their condolences and memories of the local “celebrity”, while it was also suggested that a flags should be flown half-mast at Jersey Airport in memory of the popular character.

Pictured: One person said Brian "lit up the airport".

One islander wrote: “RIP dear Brian. Was a pleasure working with you. Always a gentleman and ready to help.”

Another former colleague wrote: “Worked with him for many years during the period of change from the old airport building to the new. Always quick off the mark, and was enjoying retirement. RIP Brian.”

One added: “RIP Brian. Such a lovely man, who lit up the airport with his personality and friendly smile. Sadly missed, God bless.”