Wednesday 27th June 20112

A non-flying day, with a sodden airfield and cloud down to the ground, but this didn't deter a large group of our most active members from turning up to tackle various chores, and mull over the implications of ongoing changes taking place at Committee level.

Today it was a case of 'our cup runneth over' with instructors for a change, what with Ged Nevisky, Steve Lewis and myself there, as well as David Jesty who had kindly turned out to help with what we thought was going to be a busy flying day. Then out of the murk appeared husband and wife team of instructors Gareth and Tracey Bird from Lasham - en route to Cornwall to celebrate Tracey's birthday. They broke their journey specifically to meet the DGS team, and to receive a site briefing before coming to help us over at least one weekend in August (dates to be confirmed).

In addition to the prospect of some extra help, our spirits were lifted further with the arrival of Andrew Stewart, a resident of Trelawney House Care Home, in Plymouth. Andrew, along with a small group of other residents with special needs and their carers, has visited us and enjoyed trial lessons on a couple of occasions in recent months. He really does enjoy his gliding and today - his 64th birthday - the objective was not so much fly as to present the club with a beautiful oil painting he has done of his first flight in a K-13, with Steve Lewis in the back seat. Happy birthday, Andrew! And thank you from all of the club members for your wonderful gift.

Steve Lewis accepts the gift of an oil painting on behalf of DGS from Andrew Stewart  

Workwise, Steve Raine mowed acres of sodden grass with the tractor, Phil Hardwick and Ged then serviced the tractor (totally unrelated to Steve's driving style!) and John Bolt assisted by Alan Carter to repair the holes that had to be cut into it to replace the K8 lower rudder hinge a task that was started at the RAF Harrowbeer event apparently. Meanwhile Club Secretary Sandra Buttery used the presence of such a large and affluent (?) group to sell Open Day raffle tickets.

Bob Pirie