Tabs Taberham, known throughout the industry and who founded Skydrift Limited at Norwich airport almost 25 years ago, has retired after 55 years in aviation.

Taberham joined the RAF at the age of 17 as a trainee aircraft engine fitter, and served for 12 years. In the mid-1970s he arranged five De Havilland Herons to operate out of Norwich, each working on contract to oil exploration companies, and later moved them all to Aberdeen to continue with the contracts when exploration moved north.

Realising the potential in oil and gas exploration in the southern North Sea, and requirements for aircraft charter for offshore crew rotations and transportation of drilling equipment, Taberham started Skydrift in March 1987. In 1992 he set up an operation in the Yemen to transport oil exploration workers from the capital Sanaa to various drilling sites throughout the country, which continues to this day.

Following September 11th 2001, Tabs arranged the evacuation of gas rig personnel from the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area.

He managed the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency's aircraft for five years, and was also highly experienced in the transportation of dangerous goods, and munitions in particular. Taberham will continue to advise the company on dangerous goods, during a transition period of responsibility to Andrew Lee, commercial manager at Skydrift.