The Royal Air Force is saddened to announce the passing of Wing Commander Adrian Gillespie. The entire RAF Family’s thoughts and prayers are with Adrian’s wife Donna, family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
Adrian joined the Royal Air Force in 1989 as a Provost Officer and served a distinguished and varied career. Assignments in the UK to Royal Air Force Henlow, High Wycombe, Brampton, Wyton to name a few, were interspersed with operational tours to Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Africa.
Highly decorated, Adrian was awarded the General Service Medal Air Operations Iraq, Operational Service Medal for Service in Afghanistan Zone 1 with Clasp and General Service Medal 08 with Eastern Africa Clasp. Furthermore, his Service was recognised in 2004 with the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Royal Air Force), with the clasp to recognise 25 years of service awarded in 2014. He also held the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals.
Adrian’s most recent assignment took him and Donna to NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), in Belgium, where he was a much-respected member of the NATO Community.
Wing Commander Adrian Gillespie had a tremendously positive influence on the NATO family. An inspiring leader and a kind-hearted colleague, he led by example and has done much to enhance the UK’s reputation within NATO. He will be sadly missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna, his family and friends.
General Sir Tim Radford
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
An active member in the SHAPE community, Adrian and Donna threw themselves into life overseas. Whether it be organising outings for foreign language classes, participating in or stewarding at Park Runs, playing cricket or supporting Mess functions, they both did so with an infectious enthusiasm and desire for inclusivity.
In addition to his superb professional reputation, Adrian was a tremendous figure in the community. From playing cricket for SHAPE to running the BRITFETE Dog Show, he brought energy and positivity to a huge range of activities and his loss will be felt by us all. Our thoughts are with his family as they try to come to terms with their terrible loss.”
Air Commodore Kilvington
UK National Military Representative SHAPE
Wing Commander Adrian Gillespie will be sorely missed by all of his Service and NATO colleagues and friends who will come together to support Donna and the family as best they can.
All members of the RAF Police family are shocked and saddened to hear the news about the death of Wing Commander Adrian Gillespie, a much loved and respected friend and colleague to so many of us, myself very much included. Our thoughts and prayers are with Adrian’s family at this very difficult time.
Group Captain Foster-Jones
Provost Marshal (RAF)