The popular and enthusiastic member of the Derbyshire Soaring Club had taken up the sport three years ago and was regarded as a good recreational pilot.

His parents Angus and Hope, from Chinley, have found the support, particularly from the close-knit paragliding community, a great source of comfort with numerous tributes and comments posted on the Club's website.

Angus said: "We didn't realise how many friends he had, particularly from paragliding."

The postings, which described Ben as a generous, warm, funny person, said: "Everyone who knew him will be deeply saddened by the void he will leave behind;" "The only very poor consolation was he was surrounded by his friends until the last second;" while another said "He died doing what he loved to do – what we all love to do – to fly like a bird."

"They have written so much more eloquently than we could have done," said Hope.

Brought up in Chinley, Ben went to New Mills school before graduating from university in Sheffield after studying materials engineering. He worked at Ferodo in Chapel-en-le-Frith spending some time in America with a group of fellow graduates.

Hope said: "He was the only one that they actually asked to stay. He put that down to the background he got by working and growing up in this area."

He left Ferodo to set up his own firm Pro-Friction, based in Sheffield, manufacturing specialised high performance brake pads for racing and competition.

"He chose Sheffield because it is such a good base of skills and knowledge in the metal industry," explained Hope.

Former employees posting their tributes on the Club site said he was a great boss, very good natured and understanding and described his death as a massive shock.

* The fatal accident on May 2 is subject to an investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau which could take up to a year to complete.

* A funeral service will take place at St Barnabas Church, Bradwell, on Monday, May 19, before burial in the churchyard overlooking Bradwell Edge where Ben often flew.

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