Victor Gauntlett joined the Royal Air Force as a young man on a short service commission and there after moved on to a most successful entrepreneurial career in industry where he founded a major petroleum company and famously rescued Aston Martin Lagonda from certain extinction.

His hobbies included ownership and racing of a number of vintage and classic Bentley motors as well as operating a Spitfire and a Dakota DC3.

In 2002 he was appointed an Honorary Air Commodore and on completion of his year as Master of the Livery he was destined to become Chairman of the Air League.

Tragically, he died at the mid point of his year in office and the Livery lost a great character, a strong leader and a generous benefactor whose life had revolved around motoring and flying.

The Court agreed that in recognition of his major contribution in untiring support for the aims of the Livery and his interest in promoting training for the young, that an annual flying scholarship be funded by the Company in his name.