'O ye of little faith' was my initial reaction when I arrived at the field today. The weather was clearing with the wind dropping and blowing straight down the runway (yet again, exactly as per forecast). But instead of the usual eager group of Wednesday regulars, only the Raine/Rippon/Pike trio was present and poised to tackle all the preparatory chores. We hardly had a quorum to operate and even with instructor Steve Lewis only minutes away and David Jesty having kindly agreed to come in at around noon to help out, the prospect of fitting in a one day course, several trial lessons and plenty of club flying for 'the workers' looked bleak.
But my pessimism was premature, because soon a further ten club members turned up, along with one day course candidate Stephen Fletcher , trial lesson visitors Will and Richard Moore, and Jeremy Plumtree, plus microlight pilot Jorg Beasley, who after a trial lesson a fortnight ago came back for more.
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| One Day Course candidate Stephen Fletcher |
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| Instructor David Jesty with the Moore family. |
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| Visitor Jeremy Plumstead |
Operating both two-seaters plus the K8 from the east end launch point, visitors and members alike enjoyed a total of 31 superb launches delivered by John Howe and David Rippon - with only one cable break at hangar flight time. Throughout the afternoon thermals popped, cumulus developed and 'streeted', and everyone had a fun and safe day's flying, with all three gliders in the air more than once. That little K8 is proving to be a firm favourite, keeping busy right from the start and providing several of us with soaring flights. Not everyone was lucky, but everyone flew and we ended the day respectably early due to low sun (what's that, you may ask?) and the imminent arrival of 'The Brentor Beavers'.
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| Eager "Beavers" keen to help |
"Brentor Beavers?" The Brentor and Mary Tavy Beaver Scouts are a group of local youngsters aged between six- and eight-years-old, and on the first rung of the Scouting ladder. They started to arrive - many with their parents - shortly after 1700 hours. Following an airfield and hangar tour, our 'Wednesday committee member' Colin Boyd, Steve Lewis and I entertained them to an hour or so of chatting and flying the simulator. Some 'interesting' flights were achieved, with these 'pilots of tomorrow' gaining particular pleasure from looping. (Only two of them tore the wings off.)
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| Checking out the K13 |
The evening ended with consumption of cup cakes and flapjacks, and distribution of model glider kits. The Beaver Leader, Sandra Grylls (yes, her husband is distantly related to the famous adventurer and Chief Scout) led a round of applause in appreciation of the visit, and afte wards several of the parents showed plenty of interest in our sport and our club. Steve and I (who did the easy bit) would like to express our appreciation to Colin who did all the hard work.
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| The Brentor and Mary Tavy Beaver Scouts. |
Finally, thanks to John Howe for lending the club a beautiful picture of a glider over Brentor Church, painted by his daughter. It's in the office at present, but hopefully this weekend it will be mounted in the clubhouse.
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| John Howe with the painting |
Bob Pirie
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