Tributes paid to leading Rutland figure Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Nigel Sudborough | Updated: 13:16, 04 February 2021 Tributes have been paid to leading Rutland figure, Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Nigel Sudborough who died suddenly, aged 72, in Uppingham at the weekend. Mr Sudborough, from Uppingham, had a distinguished military career in the Royal Air Force,achieving the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, and served many important roles within Rutland after retirement. Born in Northampton, he attended Oundle School, and joined the RAF at 18 as a navigator radar operator on bombers, later in the famous 617 Squadron, the Dambusters. He became Officer Commanding at 29 Squadron, RAF Coningsby and spent a year in the Falkland Islands following the conflict for which he was awarded an OBE in 1988.