For over 4 years, Canadian Spotlight was a dream that realized itself along the way. Met some very cool people as a result, videotaped concerts, made music videos, did interviews with musicians, artists and of course, Canadians!
One of those Canadians was a good friend and a seriously charismatic guy. His name was Lorne White. Lorne unfortunately did not have his visa as it were, to stay longer with us.Unfortunately, Lornes death came in a plane that he was piloting, crashing in Tanzania while carrying along with him the lives of some well known British citizens.
Lorne and I worked on Cape to Cape with one another, he, piloting along with British World Explorer / Adventurer David Hempleman Adams, a Pink Plane with a single engine and the words SMILE on it and us, the motley crew of Canadian Spotlight, shooting, documenting and editing the footage about this adventure. The upside was that it was indeed an adventure, in many unexpected ways, the downside, it was a roller coster of event after event. They managed to break a speed record and make it back to us in the end. I looked forward to working on other projects with Lorne, however his life was cut short before anything could come to fruition. Lorne was an inspiration on how to live ones life, with a smile and a tale of adventure he could sell anyone on his dreams including me.
I would like to thank all who were there over the years. CSpot has not hung up the towel just yet, just taking some much needed time off... for now.
Cheers
Stephen
Lorne Edward White
OBITUARY; LORNE EDWARD WHITE Passed away suddenly in a tragic accident in Tanzania on October 16, 2005 at age twenty-nine. Beloved youngest son of Nancy and Terry, dear brother of Darryl (Cassandra) and uncle to Nolan. Grandson of Nancy Taylor, and predeceased by grandparents Kathleen and Lorne White and Edward Fordham. Nephew of predeceased uncle Lorne. Cherished cousin, uncle and nephew to members of the extended White family, the Dubees, the Gunnings and the Roses. If a life is measured by the quality and breadth of relationships, by incredible acts of kindness, by passionate pursuit of ideas and dreams and by profound positive influence on others, then Lorne lived countless lives in his too short time with us. A service to celebrate his life will be held at the Loyola College Chapel, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, on Saturday October 22nd at 2 p.m. Reception to follow at Loyola High School. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lorne's memory can be made to the Lorne White Memorial Bursary, c/o Loyola High School Foundation, 7272 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H4B 1R2.
Published in the Montreal Gazette from 10/20/2005 - 10/22/2005.
Lorne; News story here:
Excerpt from British Newspaper;
safari plane crash
Oct 11 2007 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
PILOT error was blamed for a plane crash which claimed the life of a Liverpool woman and her multi-millionaire tycoon boyfriend.
Investigators used DNA evidence to identify the body of Deborah Winn, 44, who died in Tanzania alongside partner Alan Williams.
Liverpool-born Ms Winn was on a safari holiday with Mr Williams, his ex-wife Sue Williams and her sister Jill Williams when their plane crashed in October 2005.
The Tanzanian Civil Av-iation Authority said Can-adian pilot Lorne White stalled the five-seater plane in a narrow canyon as he attempted a dramatic turn.
Experts think the adventurous pilot took the sharp turn to avoid higher ground.
An initial air investigation report showed the plane’s left wing clipped a tree and hit a rock on the steep valley side before bursting into flames.
The report said the doomed plane was attempting a left turn doing just 34 knots before it stalled and crashed.
All on board are thought to have died instantly.
The Cessna U206F left Mahale airstrip at 9.30am on October 16, 2005, for the hour-long flight to the neighbouring Katavi National Park.
Contact with the aircraft was lost within hours.
Later that evening a plane searching for the wreckage spotted smoke. It took rescuers more than a day to reach the site through dense rainforest.
Investigators at first suspected engine failure but tests showed no evidence of malfunction.
The weather and a bird strike were also ruled out after a two-year investigation.
Chief inspector of the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority John Nyamwihura said: “We suspect the pilot was flying inside a valley which he could not get out of. He tried to turn and stalled.
“There was high ground in front of him. We think he was trying to turn back inside the valley and then stalled. We think he made an error.
“He was a very adventurous pilot. He liked to do that sort of thing.”
Pilot Mr White, 28, from Montreal, Canada, was highly experienced with 1,700 hours flying time.
Ms Winn lived with Mr Williams, 59, at their home at Linn Crag, in Blawith, Cumbria.
