Nigel John Western Reid is the unassuming complete professional as an enthusiastic pilot and vintage aeroplane engineer. 

When a teenage Air Cadet, Nigel Reid learned to fly at Thruxton in a Piper Vagabond loaned to him by a friend and later he converted onto the DH.60G Gipsy Moth which had been restored to airworthiness by his father who was an engineer at Tarrant Rushton.

Following A Level school examinations, Nigel joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission and following officer training at RAF Henlow he commenced flying training on Jet Provosts at RAF Church Fenton. There were hints to his future path when he flew to vintage aircraft gatherings in the family Gipsy Moth which was discreetly decorated with a dayglo sticker illustrating a plan view of a Jet Provost.

He underwent Advanced jet training on Hawks at RAF Valley and weapons training on Hunters at RAF Brawdy before he was posted onto Jaguars with No 20 Sqn in Germany and No 54 Sqn at RAF Coltishall.

At the end of his RAF commission Nigel joined British Caledonian Airways flying the 757 until the company merged with British Airways in 1988 after which he was promoted to a 747 command and currently a 777 command. 

In the 1990s Nigel commenced restoration to airworthy condition of a second DH.60G Gipsy Moth which had been rescued by his father.

As an avid RAF Reservist, Nigel flies AEF sorties at Boscombe Down having advanced through the era of Chipmunks and Bulldogs to the Grob. He has also taken an interest in gliding, particularly in South Africa.

As a rated civilian instructor, Nigel taught his wife and two sons at 16 and 17 years of age to fly from scratch to PPL status operating a family Gipsy Moth. One son had barely passed his driving test while the second had still to learn to drive. Currently, one son has progressed to flying Airbus with British Airways whilst the other joined the Royal Navy and currently flies as a Typhoon pilot with the RAF.

One of the two family Gipsy Moths is unique having qualified for an aerobatic category Permit and Nigel flies public aerobatic demonstrations through his valid personal Display Authorisation. He also enjoys authority as a DA Examiner. He is a member of the RV-4 Firefly Display Team flying close formation and aerobatics trailing pyrotechnic smoke during the day and accompanied by firework illumination after dark.

Nigel is a competent aircraft engineer having inherited talent from his father but is otherwise self-taught. In addition to his RV-4 and an Andreasson BA-4, he maintains both Gipsy Moths and is responsible for negotiating modifications or sourcing engine and airframe spares when necessary for his own aeroplanes and others in need.

He has been the de Havilland Moth Club Safety Officer for over ten years and writes a regular ‘Keeping it Safe’ column for the Moth Club magazine. He has produced a series of safety-related videos dealing specifically with Moth training and operational issues, and lectures on safety at Moth Club Forums.  Nigel Reid is accordingly awarded the Myles Bickerton Trophy.

2014  The Blades

2015  Sqn Ldr Gary Coleman RAFR

2016  Maj Ryan D Chute USAF

2017  Donatella Ricci

2018  not awarded

2019  Captain Jeffrey Milsom BSc(Hons)

2020  not awarded

2021  John Stirk

2022  Steven Jones

2023  Alicia Nicole Hempleman-Adams

2024  not awarded