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Leonard Dorian Tripp

What is in a name? - Dorian to Leonard

We were always interested in my Dad's name Dorian.  By today's standards (perhaps Hollywood CA), it is an attractive and unique name for a guy.  He changed it to Leonard or Len for his own reasons.  His late brother's nickname was Porky, either short for South Porcupine where they were born or for his "stocky" stature.  We are not sure.  Everybody up north knew our Dad as Dorian.  The move to Toronto in his teens perhaps meant having  a more "resilient" Southern Ontario name.  
    
When we asked about him about his name change, Dad always told Lori and I that he saw a pilot flight training sign featuring instructor Leonard Tripp somewhere in Toronto.  It is from this sign that Dad chose to make Leonard his first name while preserving Dorian as a middle name which many today will say is much more "in style, unique and perhaps even cool".  Go figure. 
   
I just happened to stumble across this reference (below) in the Canadian Archives, to what I believe is that Leonard Tripp, the pilot.  To my amazement, this flight instructor was from Cornwall England, where my Dad's mom, Laura May or Nana as we called her, was born (town called Redruth near Lands End).
    
I guess it is a much better story than the one Johnny Cash, one of my Dad's favorite singers, described in his memorable song called "A Boy Named Sue".  Don't know it?  Search it on the web and listen.  You will laugh.
     
Growing up in Northern Ontario in the 30's must have had many challenges.  Dad, Aunt Edna (sister), Uncle Porky (brother) and Nana (mother) conquered them all.  
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Library and Archives Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Tripp, Leonard John, 1896-

Biography / Administrative history

Leonard Tripp was born and educated at St. Keverne, Cornwall, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1923 after serving as pilot and instructor with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force during World War I. After serving two years with the Ontario Provincial Air Service, Tripp was instumental in the founding of the Jack V. Elliott Flying School in Hamilton in 1926 and a Flying school in St. Catharines in 1929. He served as flight instructor for Leavens Brothers Air Service in Toronto during World War II until he opened his own air training school in Toronto in 1944.

Additional information

Copied in 1974 from originals in possession of Leonard J. Tripp of Newmarket, Ont.

Availability of other formats note
Copy negatives available: C-61746 to C-61750.

Location of originals note
Leonard J. Tripp of Newmarket, Ont.

Subject heading

1. Aviation - Canada, 1916-1939
2. Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force, 1927-1938.
3. Flight training - Canada, 1916-1939
4. Jack V. Elliott Flying School, 1916-1939.
5. Aeronautical engineers, [193-]
6. Leaven Brothers Air Service, 1916-1939.
7. Archibald McMullen, [193-]

Twist Of Fate

Through the power of the internet and the posting of this tribute to our father, on November 11, 2009, we received this very interesting email from a Bryan Tripp.  Bryan, I hope you don't mind me posting these words here.  It reads....

Dear Barry,
I am sorry to read about the passing of Leonard Dorian Tripp.   In a strange twist of google search fate I came across your website.  I am the grandson of Leonard John Tripp, the pilot trainer from Toronto.  I find it fascinating that our family histories are somewhat linked by this story.  My grandfather was born in 1896, flew bristol fighters for the RFC in WWI emigrated to Canada after the great war and we now have a large family of Tripps (my dad is the youngest of 11 children) in the Southern Ontario area (Newmarket area and St. Catharines area.)
Sincerely,
Bryan Tripp

Click on the link below to read the story....

Len Tripp trains the first licensed woman pilot in Canada