Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 24 September 2025

Andy's forecast for the Wednesday Wavers: With high pressure centred over the UK, the weather is set fine.  Wind light NW with some reasonable thermal activity from midday on. It will probably be blue initially, but I think we may get some cloud later in the day. 

And that's how it came to pass.  With no Jonah on the field (he's on holiday), the Wednesday Wavers enjoyed sunny conditions, light winds, wave, and thermals. A busy but perfect day.

Stand-in Duty Instructor Peter Howarth took trainee Ian King first.  Ian made progress with three good flights and started controlling the speed on the approach and flying the top part of the launch.

Meanwhile, Phil took One Day Course candidate Garry Hooper up for his first three flights, the latter was an extended soaring flight.  Later in the day he flew with Phil and fellow Basic Instructor Steve Lewis.  By the end of the day, the thermal conditions died, and by mutual agreement will come back to finish his course. Gary was a weapon engineer in the Royal Navy serving in surface ships.  Sadly, I didn't get a chance to speak to him about his service.

After these early flights, the pundits were rigged and ready; Andy and John Allan launched and managed to connect with some north-westerly wave.

Whilst those on the ground tracked their progress on Glide and Seek.  Flightbook OGN also recorded their flights.  Both sent tantalising photos of their progress.

Andy surfing the wave bars stretching to the south east

Andy flew for 1 hour and 40 minutes tracking from Lewdown to Shaugh Prior in a North-westerly/south-easterly beat which was a right angles to the wind.  This was probably set up by the higher wind speeds at the start of the day.  Thermal activity would inevitably suppress the wave in the light winds in the middle of the day.  However, at the end of the day, I noticed that on the final flights, a wave bar was aligned in that orientation.  It looked like convergence, but was probably the wave setting up again.

Andy managed to climb to 6,437 feet above sea level, which was a total climb of 4,712 feet (Silver height).  On analysing his flight, I saw that he managed an average glide ratio (L/D) of 211:1.  Do you like your new glider Andy?

Andy's wave flight

 John Allan took off shortly after Andy and enjoyed a similar flight profile, but flew for 2 hours and 1 minute.  John made a beat down to Ivybridge and then back up to Milton Combe.  The first part of his flight was continuously over 5,000 feet above sea level.

 John's comments on his flight:

After an initial push forwards to reach strong patchy rotor, we clawed our way up into smooth wave over Peter Tavy, then had some very strong lift, with the best at 8-10 knots alongside the wave clouds between 2,000-3,500 feet just south of the airfield towards Tavistock. Then flew along it to turn Ivybridge East and back.  After an hour or so, it collapsed near the airfield and became thermic.   

John didn't climb as high as Andy, 5,636 feet above sea level, but covered more distance, with a less overall glide ratio of 146:1.  That notwithstanding, the performance of a glider on a wave flight is amazing.  As the logo on one of my irreverent gliding T-shirts says, "Engines are for sissies".

John flew all the way to Ivybridge and back

 John managed to take a number of photos during his flight.

Towards Ivybridge, the wave was less obvious with scattered cumulus,
and the odd lenticular cloud above the cumulus to help.

Looking over Ugborough Beacon (bottom right) with South Brent beyond

Climbing up alongside one of the random lenticulars, which marked slightly better lift.

Ivybridge with Plymouth Sound in the distance

Tavistock with Plymouth Sound and the Hamoaze beyond

Around midday, the wave collapsed, the lenticulars disappeared and it became thermic, but it was very nice and clear

Then Steve Fletcher put his Open Cirrus on the launch point and flew.  This time, the sky looked thermic rather than wave.  He explored the local area and spent much of it in rising air for a total flight time of 2 hours 14 minutes.

The sun glinting off the River Tamar

Steve Fletcher observes Dave Archer thermalling in "Debbie" over Blackdown, on Dave's longest flight in his glider to date

Peter took our trial flight visitor, Robin Matthias, aloft while Phil prepared to fly with visitor John Owen. Robin had two flights with Peter; Robin much enjoyed the views from the glider. John had two flights with Phil in the Puchacz, the second of which was an extended soaring flight.

Robin about to fly with Peter

After the first batch of visitors, Peter switched back to our trainees and flew with Ken Hamblin.  Ken had a fantastic soaring flight of 56 minutes, his longest yet, and he achieved a height of 4,000 ft AFE, his highest yet.  Never has the expression "On cloud Nine" been so apt for Ken today.

Ken's view of the airfield during his momentous soaring flight

Climbing nicely in over four knots of lift.  Go Ken, Go!

After all that climbing, Peter and Ken were rewarded with a fantastic view of Plymouth Sound and the Hamoaze

Evidently, the soaring bug was contagious; Dave Archer got his K-6, G-DHEB out and rigged it.  He soared for 41 minutes, his longest to date.  Fantastic.  Well done, Dave.  Hopefully, you now see why people rave about a K-6.  It's a delight to fly.

Dave reported that he managed to get to 3,000 ft and, if he had been brave enough, could have gone downwind to Liskeard.

Not to be outdone Ed rigged the "Red Rocket", EWO, his K-6 and went soaring too, but failed to pip Dave for flight time with only 40 minutes aloft. I sense a competition starting here amongst the K-6 boys.  Then Phil flew our next trial flight visitor, George Hoare, for a single soaring flight.  Alas, no photo.

Meanwhile, at the clubhouse and in the hangar, there was plenty of activity going on, too. Firstly, congratulations to Alasdair for successfully completing his much-delayed navigation exercise.  However, that gave me a massive task of checking his solo endorsement, application for a BGA Gliding Certificate, Bronze endorsement, Cross Country endorsement and CAA Sailplane Pilot Licence application.  Phew!  Most pilots apply for these as they progress, but not our Alasdair, who us aiming for a discount by applying for everything at once.  Well, he's Scottish!

Colin supervised the derigging of the club's Astir CS77.  A team weighed the wings whilst Colin inspected the fuselage and tailplane.  He identified a worn L'Hotellier ball, or "short-neck spigot" in GROB speak, on the elevator arm of the tailplane. A replacement was ordered.

The offending L'Hotellier ball will be changed

Visitor Pat was at the club with her son, who had purchased the voucher.  enjoyed two soaring flights, taking videos and pictures to remember her experience and show to her family.

Back at the launch point, it was still busy with our trainees and visitors.

Three decades of gliding technology on display

In the midst of this activity, we heard that the BGA had confirmed John Allan's award of a Diamond Goal (300 km task with pre-declared turning points).  Congratulations, John.

Just when Phil was looking forward to a breather after his visitors CFI, Rick arrived.  He conducted Basic Inspector check flights for BIs Steve Lewis and Phil in between short flights in the K-8 made by John Smith.

Basic Instructor Phil tucks "Bloggs" (CFI Rick) into the front seat
 of the Puchacz for "Bloggs'" second-ever flight

"Bloggs" (CFI Rick) struggles to remember what the mnemonic CB SIFT BEC stands for

Doesn't Puchacz's new Trigraph on the fin and rudder look splendid

Unfortunately, there was no photo today, but the Wavers' favourite 96 yro, Joey Warren flew with us again.  She enjoyed a 14-minute soaring flight with Phil as part of her temporary membership, demonstrating that she is still game for a spot of adventure.  In the air for the first time in his Standard Cirrus was John Osment, who soared for 20 minutes.  John had owned a Standard Cirrus many years ago and remarked that he had forgotten how delightful a glider it is to fly.

As check flights became the order of the day, Sean took the opportunity to use the Duty Instructor's spare capacity to make some recency flights.

Sean, I can guarantee he is going to pull the bung on you.

Our thanks go to the winch drivers who spent long stints getting the Wavers into the air and those running the tower.  Without you, it just wouldn't happen. 

The verdict of the Wavers: "A good day at the club with some great weather."  "We seem to be back in the groove".  With 32 flights made today, long may it continue.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 21st September 2025

We are back. The first Sunday Soarer blog since 24th August 2025. A moderate NW wind, but no rain and no low cloud today. We set up to launch from the west end and a K13, Puchacz and K8 were taken to the launch point. They would be joined by privateers in a Std Cirrus and DG300. After the lay-off trainees would be brought back up to speed and early trainees checked to see if they were up to solo flights.

Duty BI Gavin Short would be kept busy with a steady stream of three trial flight visitors and a returning visitor who may be joining us as a member. First visitor was Jeff Priddis, Jeff and his wife came from North Devon. The flight voucher had been a 60th Birthday present.

Jeff waiting with Gavin.

The next visitor was Sam Johns. Junior Sam came with his parents from Torquay. He aspires to join the RAF. He enjoyed an extended soaring flight with Gavin, and then conditions deteriorated and his second flight was a circuit.

Sam ready to launch into a flying career.

Final visitor was David Bricknell. David came with his wife from Plymouth. He enjoyed a soaring flight and then a circuit with Gavin. He is a retired Naval architect. Gavin and he had much to talk about however, David has not worked on submarines.

David settled in the Puchacz.

Gavin also flew with returning trial flight member Richard Hicks. Richard is thinking about joining as a member after his temporary membership period..Being a tall lad we made sure he could be accommodated in our main trainer, the K13 and all was well.

Trainees Misha Skochko, and Aiden Hughes both enjoyed three flights with me, getting them back in the air after three weeks away due to poor weather. Also, early solo pilots Viktor Skochko and Freddie Purkiss did similar, but no solo flights today due to the slightly turbulent conditions.

Viktor's view of the airfield during an extended flight.

Some solo flying was done. John Allan enjoyed flights of  20 and 25 minutes in the K8. Phil Hardwick had 10 minutes in his DG300. Lastly, John Osment enjoyed his first flight in his Cirrus with 16 minutes.

DG300 and Cirrus waiting to launch.

We were joined by a Navy flier Henry Cole.  Henry has flown at RAF Upavon and recently at RNAS Culdrose.  Based in Devonport we are his nearest club. He enjoyed three flights with me, getting used to the airfield and local area.

Richard, Henry and Aiden, the tall ones.

After all had flown and we were packing up some rainbows were seen in the local area.

Rainbow over the winch as it is put away.

Thank you to all at the airfield today. Just great to get the Sunday Soarers back in the air.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 17 September 2025

I didn't expect to write today's blog.  Scratch and I were due to continue our Flight Instructor training at Upavon on a Royal Navy Gliding and Soaring Association Gliding development week.  Alas, a very poor forecast caused the organiser to cancel the week.  A disappointing development considering we had lost 50% of the time to weather, helicopter operations and defects during our training at RNAS Culdrose over the summer.

So would it be Wavers or Waders this Wednesday?  I didn't need Andy's forecast to work it out.  Skysight's windgram said it all.

A picture is worth a thousand words

And so it turned out to be.  The windgram was prescient and the cloud base rarely exceeded the airfield height all day.  Mike Bennett cancelled our visitors.  Richard was the Duty Basic Instructor, but his largess didn't run to bacon butties even though he was unemployed today. 

The lure of bacon was probably what brought Neal to the club today as he got stuck into membership packs and changing the LED light in the parachute room.  Apparently, his wife does know he is capable of hoovering after working, so there are no compromising photos included in this blog.  Next time, a PIR sensor will be fitted in the parachute room and an LED strip light in the Tech Office.  Then its over to others to undertake the long-awaited solar upgrade to the clubhouse.

I reviewed another iteration of the sunshade for the Flarm LED display in the front of the Puchascz.  It's almost there.  Apparently, the poor visibility of these new displays is a wider problem.  Next time, it will be ready for a test fit and a flight test. If successful, the 3-D printing code for the glare shield mount and instrument panel mount versions will be shared with the wider gliding community via gliderpilot.net.

That thought, the need to test-fly the Puchacz, led the Wednesday Wavers to ponder why they had been so unlucky with the weather over the last three weeks.  Thoughts turned to the suspicion that we had a "Jonah" amongst our ranks.  An analysis of the common factors determined that the "Jonah" was Mike but not the one who had recently returned from a holiday in Portugal.  It was 28 °C, sunny, with clear blue skies in case you are wondering. 

At least one of the Wednesday Wavers has been enjoying fine weather

Next week, things will be better as Peter Howarth is the Duty Instructor for the Waders.

Colin arrived and baulked at the rain and wind, and decided it was not a day for the annual inspection of the Astir CS77, DNE.  However, John Smith and Colin managed to measure the control surface deflections, and test the ASI and altimeter whilst I prepared the associated paperwork.

The simulator got some good use by a number of us.  More preparations were underway in preparation for the adoption of the new rules at the end of the month. More significantly the Basic Instructors wondered whether their updated Sailplane Pilot Licenses (SPL) would be back in time to continue to fly our lovely visitors in October. 

John Allan was busy installing a fixed ground radio in the Volvo.  His enthusiasm had to be dampened considerably until he understood that putting a hole in the roof for the aerial was not a good idea for a vehicle that was going to live on Dartmoor.  Phil was beavering in the MT hangar, working his farmer magic on tractor hydraulics.  As ever DB was busy making up strops, fitting new canopy covers to the gliders, and doing other jobs, whilst I touched up the port side of the Puchacz's rudder with some white paint.

Other jobs were going on, so much so that I couldn't catch them all.  The Waders were busy today, but perhaps not busy enough to take their minds off the fact that we weren't flying.  By mid-afternoon, the workers started to dissipate after their efforts.  Roll on next Wednesday, which will be Jonah-free!

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 13th September 2025

The day started wet with the recent showery storms going over the airfield thanks to the low pressure fronts coming from the Atlantic. Apart from that, the day started sunny with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees in the morning to a much more comfortable 19 degrees later on in the afternoon. 

Our weather man Andy said: “wind westerly 10kts with some lively gusts. There should be some thermal activity with a cloud base of 2500ft, but, it could be hit or miss with over development taking place throughout the day.”  This could only be further from the truth as the gliding club had an absolutely stonking day!. 

Without further ado, let's get into it…

Today saw 3 gliders taken up to the west end, K13 FSD, K8 GDK and last, but not least, the mighty HCC Puchacz. Three trainees were at the club, both Val, Ian King and our new returning member Rowan. 

Rick kicked off the training list with the experienced Val. Who is seeing major improvement  and with 3 flights today she is heavily improving her circuits and landings.

Val coming in to land, in the ominous K13 (note: it was a superb landing, well done Val!)

But in Dartmoor fashion, a heavy storm came through for about 20 minutes and saw both Val and Rick stranded in the K13 amongst the rain.

Val’s landing on her last flight

Next on the list of trainees was Rowan, a returning member from the BBQ Saturday, who enjoyed a one day course with Steve Lewis, and, was very much eager to hop in with Rick and fly.

But, safety first as CFI Rick demonstrates

how to put on and take off a parachute.

Rick takes Rowan through pre-flight safety checks (CBSIFTBEC) note: Either Rick is really concentrating hard or is extremely uncomfortable

Eventually after going through the safety checks, Rowan got away into the sky, and immediately started soaring right up to cloud base, which was around 3500ft for an impressive 23 minutes (Well done Rowan).

Rowan thermalling in the K13 with Rick in the back.

Today saw 3 visitors come up to the club.  Scratch took Margaret Barnes up in the Puchauz for an extended flight. Next visitor on the list was, William who was eager to go up and enjoyed 2 short soaring flights.

Scratch with William under a thermic sky

William is ready to go!

Rick then kindly took me up for a flight after a month of being away, and proceeded to tell me in his words, “PUT MORE BANK ON!” after finding a 6 knot thermal off the wire. 

Rick and myself under a 4knot cloud street

Rick’s view of an awesome cloud street parked over Tavistock

which eluded us during our flight.

K8 pilots, Jamie Young and John Allan both saw 30+ minutes in the air, in very challenging conditions which was no easy task due to the varying cloudbase and direction in the wind.

The wind sock shows the wind almost aligned with the runway.

Scratch with trial flight Kaisa had an excellent flight going from the launch to cloudbase in just a couple minutes in a 6knot thermal, Scratch had announced to everyone in the bus.

Kaisa happily waits to fly with Scratch.

The Puchacz’s canopy reflects the thermic cumulus clouds

Anyway, back to the training, Peter Howarth kindly took me up for three flights in the Puchacz to hopefully convert to the sleek fibreglass Astir. 

Both the first 2 flights were underwhelming, but, as they say ‘3rd time is the charm’ as both myself and Peter climbed to 4100ft! Sitting under a cloud street.

Peter’s view in the Puchacz looking out to Tavistock with some awesome clouds just behind it.

The Puchacz high east of the airfield, ready for spinning and stalls to take place.

Multiple streets cramped together.

K13 FSD awaiting it's pilots

Another beautiful photo shows the Puchacz and the variety of the clouds.

Val then stepped up into the cockpit of the Puchacz with Rick in behind.

Note: (Now is not the time for silly faces Val you're flying!) 

Val enjoyed a 16 minute soaring flight with Rick with Val doing all the flying apart from the launch.

Last but not least, our final visitor of the day, was Caitlin. She enjoyed several flights with Steve Lewis in the K13.

Caitlin ready to fly with Steve

Wow! What a day, some awesome soaring, a new junior member and lots of visitors. A big thank you to Malcolm who operated the winch and gave some amazing launches most being above 1300ft!. Secondly, Allison and my Mum who drove the retrieve throughout the day, and lastly a big thank you to Scratch, Steve Rick and Peter who flew everybody that needed to fly. 

Zack Smith

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 6th September 2025

 Low pressure still very much in charge firing seemingly endless fronts across the area. Today we were happily between the fronts but in a strong airflow. The strong wind made the decision to cancel visitor flying inevitable.

Val and Rick

Off they go

And back again

CFI Rick Wiles decided that we would fly the K13's. The day was limited to Instructors and IFP's only to fly P1. The first flight demonstrated that although strong, the wind was in was well within limits and several flights were undertaken. The best of these was a 25minute effort by Scratch with John Allan in the front seat. What they were staying up on was uncertain. A mix of ridge from the southern slopes and a little wave would be a good guess.

The view from the top of the launch looking south

The wind did increase enough that at 1pm we stood down to wait fir relatively calmer conditions and by 3pm we were flying again.

Everyone who want to flew. Several early pilots improved their handling skills with Rick.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 10 September 2025

Andy is worthy of an award with his upbeat forecast on what looks like a miserable day.  Wednesday Waders again, rather than Wednesday Wavers 

Wednesday Weather.

The synoptic chart for 1300 local.  Messy, isn't it?

There is a largish area of low pressure to the west of the UK, which is giving us these very changeable conditions. For Wednesday, there are a couple of fronts crossing the area overnight, and there will be an occluded front crossing the field just after midday.  Prior to the front, the field will be in low cloud and rain with a SSW wind at about 10 kts. The front should be over the field at 1430, and once the front clears, the wind will go more westerly and the cloud base should lift to 3,000ft.  It could then become flyable.

Skysight summarises the day with its new windgram.

Lots of talking is required to make this into a flyable forecast

Serendipitously, we had no visitors booked today for trial flights. So as the Duty Basic Instructor, I didn't have to cancel our visitors.  The challenge was for the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, to keep our trainees, and indeed us, occupied.

On the last flying day, the Sunday Soarers indulged in a bit of wild swimming in a monumental deluge as they put the gliders away.  Understandably, the five soaked and bedraggled aviators were not up for changing the main wheel on K-13, FSD, which had developed a slow puncture.  Our Chairman, Steve Lewis, led the DGS Pitstop Team to change it for the ready spare and then fix the puncture.  To have good access, this meant that the hangar doors needed to be opened, the Astir CS77 needed to be moved out into the open and for it to get wet.  The gliders were moved around, and the orange belly dolly was put into action. Inevitably the job threw up more snags and intrigues, but the team muddled through.

Scratch was busy with the industrial sewing machine, making more glider pockets for the Puchacz and Astir CS77.   In between pockets, he progressed the update of our operating procedures.

You have got to be quick to catch Scratch at his workstation in the hangar

Scratch admires one of his glider pockets in the daylight

Neal decided that getting new LED strip lights from Screwfix in Launceston was easier than battling back into the Tavistock roadworks.  After revealing some interesting wiring in the ceiling of the kitchen, both old light fittings were replaced by two energy-efficient strip lights that actually shed light on the proceedings.  The parachute room and Tech Office will be done on another rainy day i.e. pretty soon.

Neal removing the old light fittings in the kitchen

Colin paid us a brief visit, and he and I managed to progress some maintenance paperwork.  More importantly, I got my ARC documentation back and the main pin for my Standard Cirrus.  After extensive engineering advice and further inspection, the main pin was cleared for use. Yippee! I can fly my glider again.

John Allan made progress fitting a ground-based radio to the Volvo, so we don't have to rely on a handheld radio.  It should also improve the quality of communications on the field.  The 3D-printed sun shade for the front Flarm LED display in the Puchacz was offered up. However, more modifications are required!

A trial 3D-printed sun shade...

...for this Flarm display

Inevitably, there was more discussion about medicals and operating procedures after 30 September.  After lunch, I ordered some new inner tubes for the main wheels of our training gliders.  This is a family-friendly blog, so I shan't shock our readers with the prices.

Later in the afternoon, the sun came out for a brief period - Andy's clearance, before it started raining again.  A lot of rain had fallen overnight and during the day, confirming that it was indeed a day for the Wednesday Waders rather than the Wednesday Wavers.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 3 September 2025

We are in meteorological autumn, and the aftermath of Hurricane Erin is bringing us occluded, warm, cold, and then warm fronts in quick succession, approaching from the southwest at frontal speeds of 30 to 35 knots.  More Wednesday Waders than Wednesday Wavers then.  A time not to feel guilty at being late on parade for an appointment with the practice nurse in my local surgery, and in the afternoon departing early to Cadleigh, Ivybridge to give a talk on "Modern Gliding" to the South Hams MG Car Club.

Time for the Waders to get stuck into some jobs in the hangar, clubhouse, and the Motor Transport hangar.  I brought my strimmer to cut the grass around our "Learn to fly a glider" signs which indicate the way to our club.

Richard, the Duty BI, cancelled our visitors by telephone whilst the rain was hammering down on the clubhouse roof.  Then Richard revealed that he had visited Tesco en route.  Cue Richard and Peter busy in the kitchen producing a late breakfast of bacon and sausages sarnies. Yummy!  Thanks, Richard.

Chef Richard, who was assisted by Sous-chef Peter, starts the production line of tasty bacon butties

Despite professing to having already eaten breakfast John Osment succumbed to a bacon butty

After flying in the Alps, in the simulator, John Allan headed to the hangar to fix the power supply to the radio in K-13, FSD.  Neal Oxley had made a prototype sun shade for the front seat Flarm LED display, the Puchacz.  After completing a reorganisation of our paperwork, as the newly appointed Membership Secretary, he offered it up.  It was just about right.  A few tweaks are needed before he can print the final version.

Then Steve Lewis turned his hand to removing the Polish standard format Bigraphs (CC) on the nose, fin and rudder of the Puchacz using my small heat gun.  It had been drawn to our attention that a Ventus flying out of Lasham has the competition number CC.  A clash.  So we had Trigraph stickers made up with HCC for the fin and rudder as per the BGA recommendation.

The Trigraph mounting team, Steve, John Allan and I, set about measuring and debating the alignment of the new letters.  Satisfied, we set about in good Blue Peter fashion with soapy water, squeegees, and Fablon (well, vinyl letters).

Steve carefully aligns the transfer sheet into position on the port side
after carefully measuring and marking

Now the starboard side. 
After a team effort of removing the backing sheet, John applies the finishing touches

The Puchacz, resplendent in its new livery while the Trigraph team check the port side

Whilst the nose decals came off cleanly, and those on the starboard side too, inevitably, two small areas of paint were lifted off the rudder on the port side.  A judicious touching up with vinyl primer and white paint, and all was well.  Steve loves this stuff! 

Back in the clubhouse, there were extensive discussions on the new Sailplane Pilot Licence, the associated medical standards, and the underpinning national legislation that comes into force at the end of the month.

Heavy showers continued throughout the day.  Just when you thought it was brightening up down came the rain.   By early afternoon, members had started to pack up and leave. John, Steve and I were the last, pleased with our work on the Puchacz's new livery.

During the afternoon it started to look nice on several occasions. 
Thirty seconds after I took this photo, it was hammering it down with rain.

So no flying today for the Wednesday Waders, but bacon and sausage sarnies consumed, many non-flying tasks tackled, but no strimming due to the heavy rain, and an undiminished optimism for better weather next time.

The talk to the MG car Club went down well with lots of follow-up questions and interest.  The grandfather of Rowan Guest, a recent One Day Course candidate, was in the audience WhatsApping like a teenager to show Rowan what he was listening to.  It's a small world!  In lieu of a speaker's fee, the MGCC made a donation of £35 to our club. As they say, "every little bit helps" ***. 

Gavin Short

*** Despite what the Tesco marketeers would like you to think, this expression, with slightly different wording ( everything helps ), dates from the late 1500s.