Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit
    • How United and City set up the worst Manchester derby ever
    • Sure! Here’s the text without the site name, category, date, and full stops: Why Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is one of my favourite PS2 era games – Reader’s Feature
    • Rob Reiner Says That ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Is Safe From His ‘Spinal Tap’ Sequelitis
    • “Epstein is rolling in his grave laughing”: Artist reveals why he photographed convicted paedophile and Donald Trump
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - News Briefing - Geoffrey Kitchen: ‘Popular and kind’ musical theatre director died on Singapore Airlines flight on ‘last big holiday’ with wife
    News Briefing

    Geoffrey Kitchen: ‘Popular and kind’ musical theatre director died on Singapore Airlines flight on ‘last big holiday’ with wife

    By David Pike5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Geoffrey Kitchen: ‘Popular and kind’ musical theatre director died on Singapore Airlines flight on ‘last big holiday’ with wife

    Geoffrey Kitchen: ‘Popular and kind’ musical theatre director died on Singapore Airlines flight on ‘last big holiday’ with wife

    A much-loved musical theatre director died on a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence while his family said he was on his “last big holiday” with his wife.

    Father-of-two Geoffrey Kitchen has been named as the 73-year-old Briton who died on board the Boeing 777-300ER plane, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok en route to Singapore from London on Tuesday.

    A spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport said a British man suffered a suspected heart attack on the aircraft, which was carrying 211 passengers – including 47 from the UK – and 18 crew, while seven people are fighting for their lives in hospital and dozens more were injured.

    Singapore Airlines said the flight encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure and the pilot declared a medical emergency, with flight tracking data showing the plane plummeted 6,000 feet in minutes.

    As details of the terrifying flight continue to emerge, tributes have been flooding in for Mr Kitchen, who is from Thornbury, just outside Bristol. His wife was rushed to hospital after the incident, according to Airports of Thailand general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn.

    The Thornbury Musical Theatre Group, where Mr Kitchen devoted much of his time having worked there for 35 years and been its director since 2020, praised him as a “gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity”.

    Stephen Kitchen, Mr Kitchen’s first cousin, said the 73-year-old and his wife, Linda, had been looking forward to their six-week holiday together.

    Speaking from his home in Chepstow, he told The Independent: “We were a bit shocked, I still am. I’m trying to touch base with Linda. I sent a message.

    “They were looking forward to the holiday. They are travellers, they do quite a lot of these things, quite adventurous. It was sort of going to be their last big holiday. It would have been nice to see them before they went. It was a tour around Asia.”

    Stephen said he was due to meet the pair for lunch at the White Hart pub in Littleton-upon-Severn before they flew out for their holiday – but due to visa issues that needed sorting it was called off.

    Asked how he’d remember his first cousin, Stephen said: “With fond memories, he is musical, I’m musical so we are musicals orientated but I know he was very popular in the Thornbury musical group, just a lovely guy.”

    Only last week, Mr Kitchen, who was a retired insurance professional, had been helping preparations for the group’s upcoming show, Journey Back To The Future, which neighbour and co-member Steve Dimond said would now be dedicated to him.

    Mr Dimond, who has known Mr Kitchen for 11 years, said: “We will continue with the next show which will likely be done in his name.

    Injured passengers being treated on the airport tarmac in Bangkok after the London to Singapore flight hit severe turbulence and was forced to divert (Pongsakorn Rodphai)

    “I’m really shocked, he’ll be badly missed. He was a kind man who in recent years, after retirement, had loved the musical theatre.”

    Mr Kitchen had recently worked hard campaigning for the reopening of the town’s Armstrong Hall, and he was much respected in the community.

    The 16-year-old Boeing 777 left Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday and landed in Bangkok at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) the following day. Flightradar24 said its tracking data showed the plane encountered turbulence at approximately 8.49am BST while flying over Myanmar.

    The flight tracking service said data sent from the aircraft showed a “rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event”, adding that there were “some severe” thunderstorms in the area at the time.

    Student Dzafran Azmir, 28, who was on the flight, said the plane suffered a “very dramatic drop”, meaning people not wearing a seatbelt were “launched immediately into the ceiling”.

    Images posted on social media showed damage to the ceiling of the cabin, and food, cutlery and other debris strewn on the floor after the incident.

    Mr Dimond, who knew Mr Kitchen for around 11 years, said: “We are worried about his wife Linda because she is in hospital undergoing surgery. We don’t know how serious that is.”

    Asked about Mr Kitchen, he said: “A really nice bloke, loved live music and the theatre. I can remember him dressed as a sultan in the panto this year, funny, good singer, a nice bloke. Very sociable.”

    In a tribute paid on Tuesday night, the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group said: “It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.

    “Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.

    “His commitment to TMTG was unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including chairman, treasurer and most recently secretary.

    “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.”

    A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said it was supporting the family of the passenger and was in contact with local authorities.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/singapore-airlines-flight-geoffrey-kitchen-death-b2549024.html

    London Singapore Airlines The Independent UK featured UK Trending
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleUK inflation falls by less than expected to 2.3%
    Next Article Key Points: A guide to the Singapore Airlines death
    David Pike

    David Pike is an experienced news journalist with over 20 years experience as a UK News editor for WTX News and other news publications.

    Related Posts

    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit
    Politics

    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit

    Yellow wind warning in place for most of England from Sunday
    Climate Change

    Yellow wind warning in place for most of England from Sunday

    There is a witch-hunt vibe in Labour on how and who approved Peter Mandelson’s appointment
    UK News

    There is a witch-hunt vibe in Labour on how and who approved Peter Mandelson’s appointment

    Zero growth in July as economy continued to slow, official figures show
    Business

    Zero growth in July as economy continued to slow, official figures show

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit

    BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit

    Rob Reiner Says That ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Is Safe From His ‘Spinal Tap’ Sequelitis

    Rob Reiner Says That ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Is Safe From His ‘Spinal Tap’ Sequelitis

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • BlackRock to invest £500m in UK data centres during Trump visit September 13, 2025
    • How United and City set up the worst Manchester derby ever September 13, 2025
    • Sure! Here’s the text without the site name, category, date, and full stops: Why Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is one of my favourite PS2 era games – Reader’s Feature September 13, 2025
    • Rob Reiner Says That ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Is Safe From His ‘Spinal Tap’ Sequelitis September 13, 2025
    • “Epstein is rolling in his grave laughing”: Artist reveals why he photographed convicted paedophile and Donald Trump September 13, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.