Businessman killed in Malawi plane crash

A HARPENDEN businessman was among five British tourists who died in a plane crash in Malawi.

Father-of-two Nigel Clout, a sales director for plastics company Formech in Thrales End Lane, Harpenden, was part of a group of about a dozen keen cyclists and squash players.

The 53-year-old was on holiday with two friends, who had been members of Cannons Health Club in St Albans since it was a squash club more than 16 years ago.

His friends Daniel Turnberg, aged 37, of north London - son of Labour peer Lord Turnberg - and David Murrrell from Surrey were also killed, along with Colin Smith, aged 45, and his wife Dawn Rollins, 44, of Norwich.

The group had taken a sightseeing flight in a Cessna 206 six-seater plane over the Nyika national park in the north of the country when the accident happened. The Canadian pilot was also killed.

They are believed to have been staying at a lodge in the park. Fog and low cloud over the 1,800-metre highland region may have caused the crash.

The plane apparently took off for a 30-minute flight on Saturday afternoon but failed to return to Chelinda airfield.

A spokesperson for Cannons Health and Fitness Club in Highfield Park Drive, said: "We were deeply saddened to hear the news that members of Cannons died in a plane crash in Malawi last weekend.

"We understand that those concerned were taking part in an independently-organised cycling tour of Malawi. Staff and members of Cannons extend their thoughts and sympathy to the friends and family of all concerned."

Simon Fennell, a colleague at Formech in Harpenden, said Mr Clout had been headhunted for the firm by its managing director Paul Vugovich, a fellow cycling enthusiast who lives in St Albans.

He paid tribute to Mr Clout as a "driving force at work and a thoroughly decent man".

Nigel, from Hunters Oak in Hemel Hempstead, was a keen sportsman all his life, who often travelled the globe on sporting challenges. His wife Margaret described him as "always full of life - a real action man, who lived life to the full".

A keen cyclist, Nigel had been mountain biking for around 15 years. He had cycled in numerous countries including Guatemala, Greece and Spain. He was always looking for a new challenge and loved to visit interesting places.

A popular man, Nigel had many friends and was always there to lend a hand if needed. His two daughters, Victoria, aged 23, and Jenny, 21, described him simply as "the best Dad", who taught them everything from riding a bike to driving a car.

"He was always full of fun and everyone loved him - even our friends, despite the fact that he would take every opportunity to challenge them to some sort of sporting contest including early-Sunday-morning bike rides," said Jenny.

Victoria added: "He was a big kid who loved life and we have so many happy memories of him. He made us a fantastic sledge which out-performed everyone else's in the snow. Our friends nicknamed him Nigel the Legend and he was. We love him so much and he will be so missed.