We are very sorry to report that Air Commodore Andrew Hine, OBE, RAF (Retd) (Tr 1979-84) has died of cancer, peacefully at home, aged 58 on 15^th April 2025. We send sincere condolences to his family which includes OHs Nicholas (Tr 1976-80) and Jessica (Alb 2011-17).

At Haileybury Andrew sang with the choir and played rugby for the VL. He was senior NCO in the RAF section of the CCF and won the CCF prize in 1984, going on to a sponsored cadetship with the RAF at St Andrews University where he read Modern History. He joined RAF Cranwell in 1989, winning the BAE Systems prize for top academic marks, then becoming a Flight Officer in 1989, and Flight Lieutenant in 1990. Following in his father Air Commodore Patrick Hine’s footsteps he was a frontline Fast Jet Pilot with 17 Fighter Squadron in Germany, becoming a Squadron Leader in 1998 and deployed to Kuwait in 1999 to oversee a detachment of six Tornados in the Gulf War. He was appointed Wing Commander in 2003, flying 28 sorties from Quatar. most involving air-to-air refuelling and lasting many hours. In 2008 he was promoted to Group Captain and posted to Permanent Joint HQ to run the operational plans division, going on to command Lossimouth, the RAF’s biggest and busiest operational base in 2009, supervising deployment to Afghanistan and Libya whilst also preparing for the replacement of the Tornado with the Typhoon. In 2012 he was promoted to Air Commodore.

Andrew retired from the RAF in 2015 and began a second career as a history teacher and Deputy Housemaster at Oundle School where his knowledge and clarity brought his subject to life. He was also involved in Educational Support, the CCF, cross country and rowing and in his spare time enjoyed hiking, golf and running, including marathons and Ironman triathlons. He is described as a highly intelligent thinker with great integrity and loyalty.

In 2018 Andrew read a lesson in Chapel at the OH WW1 Service of Remembrance and joined our day at Haileybury to commemorate OHs in WW1.