Volume 37 No 1 Feb-Mar 1986.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

CLUB NEWS
ensured we carried on flying when Ihe Piper
Cub engine cut out on a flighl to Challock by
our lugmaster, Hugh Grenham, and deputy
eFl, Joe Batchelor,. The final glide back to the
field demonstrated' :Hug,h's field selection skill
and final glide techiques. The lug Is now back
In business.
Our air experience evenings have proved a
great sucoess and\ combined with the weekly
courses run by lan Smith, provided much
needed income.
There have been several visits to Talgarth to
sample the exceptional conditions and hospital­
Ity at the Black Mountai.ns GC.
With all the hard work badge attell'lpts have
been restricted but congratUlations to Ron
Speer (Gold height)" Mike Kitson and GQdfrey
Herrin (Silver Os), Mark Hampton, and Brian
Woods (Silver height) and Cliff Kindell and
Mike Pierpoint (Silver distance). Godfrey Herrin's
Silver Cwas a just reward for all his hard
work rebuilding the Skylark trailer,.
J.s. .
HAMBL~TONS (RAF Dishforth)
The end of summer brought improved weather
and an influx of new members, many from
Leeds University.
The first snow coincided, with a pleasant
evening with our American friends at Menwith
Hill- our thanks to Bill Jaques, the organiser,
Ior amuch appreciated event.
We are working on the hangar and hope to
have heating in the clubrooms for the winter.
J.P.
HIGHLAND (Dal/achy)
1985 has been another record year with 3474
launches compared wit~ 3001 in 1984. In spite
of the wet summer we had fbur successful
courses, a record number of air eXJ')erlence
IIgh1s and membership is thriving.
Congr,atulations 10 new solo pilots Bobby
Sm~h (Ailsa GC), Phil' remose, Howard Bell,
Mike Bowley, Bill McDonald and Robert Tait
who went solo on his 16th birthday,
Bronze Cs were completed by Tony Kane
and SIeve Young! who also gained Silver
heights and their 5hrs with Silver Cs for Stuart
Youngson and Robyn Smith, RObyn also gain­
~ Gold height and the year's club duration 01
IIlrs 3Omin. In JUly Bill Hill and Hendry Dyce
tlok our Bocian 10 11 OOOft.
In June Gerry Robsol'l flew the Skylark after
~ 18 month rebuild and Trevor Armstrong
(Kestrel) completed' a 310km triangle in 3hrs
11mins, the !irst 300km lror;n Oallachy.
After two, years as CFI, Trevor has lemporar­
Itt left us to work in Sarawak. We wish him well
and welcome Angela Vf;1itch as our new CFl.
(lA
INKPEN (fhruxton Airfield)
This autumn we investigated the possil)i1ity of
merging w~h the' power tlying club who share
our site with the hope of giving tlS more
facifities, particularly on the social side. But it
came to nothing. However we-are completing
some previously planned and tlrgently needed
changes to the club organisation which should
FebruarylMarch 1986
improve our financial structure and make future
operations more efficient.
Pat Hudson starts the new season as our
CFI with David Williams as course instr\Jctor.
Clille Swain joins tile inst~uctors and Ray Godwin,
Mellreland, Ken Summers and Terry
Baulk !have passenger ratings.
CongratlJlatior:ts to Ray Godwin and Jim Nipe
on their Silver Cs.
I.D.
KENT (Chal/ock)
The annual excursiOIil to Aboyne was, most
successful with Diamond heights forGlyn
Richards. Alan Garside and Ray Smith and
Gold heights for Mike Sesseman and Geoff
and' Ann JohnsOrl.
The annual dinner-dance was a huge success
with Ben and lirish WatSQn as guests.
Our thanks to Ben, BGA chairman, for his
amusing 1alk on "behind the scenes" at the
World Clilampionships.
We are servicir:tg Ihe winches under the
super\lision of Jim Lambert and Richard Brown
who deserve thanks tor all their work.
.J.W_
MIDLAND (Long Mynd)
At our AGM in November all our officers were
re-elected including Paut Davies who look over
as ·treasurer a few weeks' previously after the
resignation of Pave Wool!. Our thanks to Dave
for all his work'. As Paul manages the, linancial
affairs of pop group UB40, we are pleased to
have 'him looking, after our finances.
We also have a new eFl, Phil King, Chris
Alldis havir:lg retired after four years during
which he did a tremendous al1'lount of work and
established our glass two-seater fleet.
Despite an overall impression of poor
weather during 1985, there were 24 flying days
in August of which 23 were soarable. On one,
during the combifled task week and Vintage
Glider Club rally, we flew 143hrs - believed to
be a club record for a single day.
With "Tuggy" Bradley continuing to lead a
prograr;nme of airfield surface improvements,
we can now operate in all wind directions.
NB.
Obituary - Tony Spicer
In the' autumn we were saddened to learn of
Tony's death after a short illness. lony!had
been a member lor over 30 years. He was our
clubhouse manager from 1,976 10 1983 during
which period he contributed much to Ihe wel.1
being of nnembers and visitors alike.
T0ny retained a qUiet but great enthusiasm
lor gliding - a sport which he loved.
Neil Backes
NORFOLK (Tibenham Airfield)
The Aug,ust task week was a -washout with few
flying