On January 5th, 2025, Oban Farm Stay had the unexpected and truly heartwarming privilege of hosting Mr Simon Kidston, his wife Rosie, son Cassius and daughter Constance. This visit held a special significance for us, as Mr Simon Kidston is the nephew of the late Lieutenant-Commander Glen Kidston, whose tragic plane crash we previously wrote about in this blog.
The weather that day was unpredictable, with ominous clouds gathering. We were expecting the Kidston’s to arrive by helicopter, and we did our best to prepare for their safe landing. However, due to the rapidly deteriorating weather, they opted to fly directly to the Glen Kidston Memorial instead.
Mr Simon Kidston, Constance, Rosie & Cassius at the Kidstone Memorial, Van Reenen, Free State, South Africa
To our surprise, they then made their way to Oban, arriving amidst a downpour.
Captain Kobus Jansen from MCC Aviation, skillfully landed in the soft grass. Despite the unexpected soaking, we had a lovely cup of hot tea. It was a truly special afternoon, filled with heartwarming stories shared by Mr. Simon Kidston about his uncle. We also had the pleasure of inviting our neighbor, Bruce Nel, to join us. Bruce, as we learned that morning, is the dedicated caretaker of the Glen Kidston Memorial and was involved in its restoration when it was vandalized several years ago. The afternoon unfolded like a long-lost family reunion, with shared memories and heartfelt conversations.
Images courtesy of Mr. Bruce Nel.
The Kidston family visit was a truly unforgettable experience for us at Oban Farm Stay. We were deeply touched by their warmth and kindness. It is rather evident that Mr. Simon Kidston had inherited Lt-Commander Glen Kidston’s love for vehicles. Perhaps it’s in the DNA! We look forward to welcoming them back to Oban in the future and cherish the memories of this special day.
Thank you, Kidston family, it was so very lovely meeting you! We are truly honored!
You can book your special flight via MCC Aviation. Contact details are on their website.
Follow the gorgeous Kidston family @KidstonProductions
I am the older nephew of Glen Kidston aged 90. My mother Ellinor was Glens older sister by 6 years and kept every detail of his trip. These were all passed to Simon when she died in 2006 aged 101. I knew Simon’s father very well and we shared a love of boats. Lindsay
Hi Mr. Phillips
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!! That is so wonderful! I am busy with a project where I’m trying to access the actual police and court documents which has the images of the crash site, witness accounts etc. I would love for you to make contact with me. My contact details are here on the website. Thank you so much for sharing this with me and it is an honor meeting you!
Warm Oban Regards
Thea