Retired Concorde pilot found dead at home alongside wife with dementia

A former Concorde pilot, who flew the Queen and Princess Diana, has been found dead in the home where he cared for his wife with dementia.

'Tragic' double death

Police have launched a murder enquiry after finding Tony Meadows aged 84 and his wife Paula (also in her eighties), dead in the home they shared in Bucklebury on Tuesday evening.

Thames Valley Police say they are not looking for any suspects.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Howard, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident in which two people have died.

“We are currently investigating and have launched a murder enquiry but we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident. There is no danger to the public so people locally should not have any undue cause for concern.”

The elderly couple lived in the home together for over 30 years, had been married for 61 years and have three children.

The couple lived in the Berkshire village known for its royal connections because of Kate Middleton, whose family have a home there. But that was not the only royal connection and claim to fame for the ex-Concorde captain.

Captain Meadows made history on Concorde’s first commercial flight from London to New York in 1977.

Speaking to Mach 2 magazine, he said: "The 22nd of November 1977 was to be an exciting day – we were at last going to fly passengers to New York.

"All went according to plan.

"We were well within the noise limits and achieved results comparable to subsonic jets on the day.

"The rest of the flight went without incident."

A woman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC, Mr Meadows’ wife “Paula has dementia so she hadn't been very well for quite a while.

"But Tony always took care of her and looked after her very well, and took her for walks.

"He was a very caring person, very friendly."