2007 Show
The Show is over for another year and we offer a huge "Thank You" to the Club members who turned up to help in setting up before the Show, who played a part on the Show days themselves, and, just as important, in clearing up afterwards. Although only some 60% of our adult members helped in some way, they all turned up on the days they had promised which makes planning so much easier. Everything went well and the field was cleared before midday on the following Monday. John Warner wants to pass on his thanks to the gate team who coped so well with a near-record attendance on the Saturday (probably 3,000 paying customers) and another good crowd (about 2,500) on the Sunday. Antony Redding reports that our traders seemed happy with the business they did over the weekend. (Webmaster note: The Parish Council had a complimentary stand at this year's show and were very pleased with the event. You can read here their report for the Parish Magazine).
The flypast by the Spitfire of the BBMF was a high spot of the Saturday. The pilot 'phoned afterwards to see if all was OK!!I want to pay tribute to the Stroud ATC who did a superb job in managing car parking for us. This was their first time with us but I hope it will not be the last. We were introduced to them via Jan Forty, who has run the camping side of the Show for some years. Our thanks to her on both counts. Hilda Davies again ran the hospitality area for us and earned much deserved thanks from all those who visited. Several members of Newent Club generously gave their time to help us as did a number of other regular helpers from different parts of the country who turn up each year. It was great to see Roman Dresewski and William Underhill who gave invaluable help even though they are no longer Club members - I hope they might come back into the fold very soon. Last but not least, we owe a great deal to the LMA who provide insurance cover, manage all the flight side activities and provide much other support to those of us who organise these things. Let's not forget that all the flyers, who are all LMA members, appear at entirely their own expense and we are most grateful to them. That is about all the tributes - if I have inadvertently omitted someone I apologise.
We were subject to a CAA inspection on Sunday the 2nd. George Duncan, CAA Flight Standards Officer, spent the day with us and I am pleased to say we had a first class report.
Now, the financial results. John Warner will obviously give a full report at the AGM but the headlines are as follows: Total takings around £19,000 plus £668 at a raffle for Acorns Children's Hospice thanks to the generosity of the Commentator, Colin Hammond, and some of the traders. Income from Traders was a record at £4,500 - well done, Antony. Our costs were nigh on £10,000. We are able to give a sizable donation of £1600 to the LMA and a further £3,400 between the County Air Ambulance, MacMillan Renton Appeal, St. Michael's Hospice, Acorns, St. John Ambulance and Much Marcle Church Roof Appeal. A further sum goes to offset the loss the Club makes each year which incidentally amounts to over £25 per head. That subsidy, of course, benefits all members.The balance goes to reserve, against the time when we might have a really disastrous Show or we meet some unexpected calamity. Thanks to the prudence of the Treasurer (heard that somewhere before!) we gain some £600 a year in interest on those accumulated funds.
All in all a very succesful weekend for the Club.
Put next year's dates in your diary please - 6th and 7th September 2008.
Membership
We welcome Kevin Pursey from St. Owens Cross who joined last month.
Training
Now that the evenings are drawing in it is time to make new arrangements for the weekly training session. Tuesday 25th September will be the last of the Tuesday evening slots. We will move to Saturday afternoons commencing Saturday 6th October at 2.00pm until the clocks change when we will be able to start earlier in the afternoon.
AGM
The Annual General Meeting will take place at the Royal Oak on Thursday 29th November. Please make every effort to attend as it is your chance to have a say in the Club's business and it is when subscriptions are set for next year. An agenda and other papers will be issued nearer the time. Meanwhile, please consider if you would like to serve on the Committee or whether you wish to nominate someone else, with their agreement of course. In either event you need to be sure you have a seconder. If you wish to suggest changes to the Constitution please remember that they must be lodged with me at least 30 days before the meeting.
FOR SALE
A friend of mine who is not in HMAC has asked if I would include some items for sale. These are:If anyone is interested please let me know and I will put you in touch with the owner.
- a partly built Tony Nijhuis -designed Lancaster, 72" span for 4 electric motors (not included). CNC- cut formers and ribs, all other balsa plus vac- formed cowls, turrets and canopy, 2 plans, construction notes. £65.00
- 2 Osprey gliders for two channel. 64" span One is built and requires a little t.l.c. the other is still in box. Offers.
I think that is about all for now,
Good flying.
Bernard Morris