Few people deserve to be called a legend, but friends and colleagues of Peter Shewring say he does.

They remember him as a master conversationalist, a class act, a born teacher, someone who made everyone feel like a champ, and "a true Canadian aviation icon."

"He literally tutored thousands of young and older pilots who well remember him for his knowledge and good humour," said retired pilot Paul Stenner, who knew him for 50 years and did ground school commercial licence training with him.

Shewring died of a heart attack at age 73, during a teaching session in Edmonton last year. Friends now want him named to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

He was a pioneer of ground school classes, a Transport Canada designated flight test examiner, an instructor for 35 years whose experience included thousands of hours of flying on jet and turboprop aircraft.

"He never wanted to retire," said Akiko, his wife of 40 years. "He was always energized and uplifting."

Coast to coast in Canada as well as in England, Europe and the Middle East, Shewring taught advanced classes, and fellow pilot Jerry Higgins still hears his melodic voice during times of stress — in or out of the cockpit.

"He'd say: 'Do you want to take the easy way or the tough way? The tough way is usually best because you'll learn from it.' "

"There were many aviation teachers in Canada, but Peter was most renowned, a legend, the go-to person," said Higgins, acting regional manager of commercial and business aviation, Pacific Region, for Transport Canada. "Peter taught just about every commercial pilot now flying."

Shewring came to Canada at age 10 from England, with his single-parent mum.

He grew up in Port Alberni and worked in radio before studying pre-medical sciences at the University of Victoria. But then he got bit by the flying bug.

"He had a great set of hands," said Higgins, "and his knowledge of systems was second to none. He was able to assess problems, find solutions, make safe, accurate decisions."

As chief pilot for B.C. Government Air Services, which disbanded in 1994, Shewring flew delegations, scientists, Commonwealth leaders and provincial officials all over the province — people like highways minister "Flying Phil" Gaglardi.

The fleet had 36 pilots, six jets, two turboprops, an Otter and a Beaver, and its prime purpose was air ambulance, Higgins said.

"Many times we faced significant challenges with weather, emergency landings, an engine on fire. Once a big seagull hit the windshield at 200 knots. During a medevac out of Smithers one winter at 2 a.m. the snow was so heavy we de-iced before we left the apron, taxied out the runway, and I had to get out and further broom off the aircraft before taking off.

"Peter was always cool. After a tough flight we'd get into the hangar at 3 a.m. and he'd ask: 'What did we get out of that?' His emphasis was on self-diagnosis, assessment. Because of people like him, we have one of the best, if not the best, civil aviation records in the world."

Shewring's second love, after wife and children — Leslie, Diane and Stephen — was studying medical journals. Paramedic Randy L'Heureux flew hundreds of missions with him and said he was "a pilot beyond compare ... a brilliant man who had such a grasp of our paramedical job that we were all convinced he could have actually done our job."

After leaving government, Shewring flew for Ainsworth Lumber and private jet charters but continued teaching. He was also a Saanich School District trustee for nine years.

Daughter Leslie described her dad as a cheerleader who "gave us the greatest gift any child could have: He was adoring."

Former Social Credit finance minister Hugh Curtis recalled Shewring in an instant.

"He was an outstanding pilot who should certainly be included in the Aviation Hall of Fame."

The effort is being spearheaded by pilot Ron Rodrigue, a longtime friend who organized a fly-past for Shewring's memorial.

"Peter deserves it," said Rodrigue, who said he was one of the highest-standard pilots in the country. "He was a top man for following safety procedures, a man of great influence who never put anyone down."

Victoria pilot Mike Sealey agreed and added: "He was a sponge for knowledge. He didn't just have a photographic memory but a three-dimensional one. He was a man of incredible depth."

Peter Shewring was born May 2, 1936, in England, and died March 20, 2010, in Edmonton.

Island Lives is a weekly series celebrating the lives of Island people who have died recently. The series focuses not on the famous, but on our neighbours who have led interesting lives or made a difference in their communities. If you know of someone whose life should be celebrated, let us know by email at features@timescolonist.com or by mail at 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C., V8T 4M2.