wiltshire

During the last couple of months membership figures have again increased, so this year looks like being a bumper year, our membership now stands around the hundred mark. The new c1ubbouse is now in its fitting-out stage and a few more weeks’ work should see it finished. 6 Thanks to Bev Hill and his team of ardent workers the new tow car, which has been custom built for the purpose, is now with us. David Bailey organised a car rally one dark evening a few weeks ago, needless to say we ended up at a wayside inn. Our fifth annual dinner and dance was held during March. Next year we hope to award trophies for best flights during the coming year. Flying is getting well under way. the Olympia has had its C. of A This year should see more task flying than ever before.

The AG.M. has just taken place and the committee for 1965 is to be small and streamlined. The following have been elected as officers: Chairman, L Colquhoun; Secretary, G. Turner; Treasurer, R. Clark: Ground Engineer, D. Rawling; Social Secretary, J. Young; Aircraft Engineer, R. Maxfield. A special vote of thanks goes together with our grateful appreciation to our past Secretary, Miss B. Sanders. She has done us proud since we started, and has been our Secretary for five years. We wish her well, and hope to see more of her on the field in ’65. It is hoped that we shall soon have the use of a new Blanik which should be here by January. One of our new members, Chris Day, has acquired one of these machines and is allowing the Club to use it. as an advanced trainer. The total fleet for 1965 will now consist of a T-21, Swallow, Olympia, Blanik, Skylark 4 and a Grunau. I now end by introducing Peter Clifford who will be your scribe for the coming year. 

Swindon Gliding Club, being the nearest Club to South Cerney, is of course, very much looking forward to the World Gliding Championships. The Club and members are anxious to help and assist in any way they can any visitors. who care to visit our South Marston home drome during this period. We shall be organizing passenger glider flights during the World Championship, and we also expect to be flying every day at South Marston as well as acting .as the host field for aero’ planes coming in from everywhere. Club achievements since last communication – Geoff. Turner attained a Silver C height in the new syndicate Skylark 4, Margaret Young got her C and we expect our Olympia back any day now after C of A.

This season has shown great progress in the’ cross-country activities of our members and many previously home loving pilots ha.ve groped their way down wind to qualify for incipient pundit-hood. 8 Our more experienced pilots have also had a good year and between them brought the cross-country mileage to a total for the season greater than all other previous flights from this Club. The Club fleet was expanded earlier this year by the arrival of the Blanik which the owner, Chris Day, has arranged to be available for advanced training. Chris has recently completed his Silver C in the “Tin Ship” upon which we all congratulate him. Our plans for the winter include the establishment of a semi-permanent hill site for ridge-bashing and a visit to Portmoak in February in the hope that the famous wave conditions there will cooperate with those of us hardy enough to make the pilgrimage to the frozen north. This summer we were glad to welcome a group of new members from the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, which included a number of very experienced power pilots who quickly adapted themselves to the idea of aeroplanes without fans on the front and soloed with the minimum of delay.

At our recent Annual General Meeting, it was officially announced that as planned. our CFI, Ken O’Reilly, had handed over his duties to Bernie Keogh. We take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to Ken f.pr the splendid job which he has done for the club and wish him many fat thermals in the coming season, when he will be no longer chained to the T-21. It was with great regret that the Committee accented the resignation of our treasurer, Ray Clark. who’s skilful handling of the club finances has been vital to the smooth operation of the organisation. The officers now are: L. Colquhoun. chairman: B. Keogh, CFI Mrs. M. Davies, secretary; and M. Parkins, treasurer. Margaret Davies, in addition to becoming our new secretary, has also distinguished herself in the air by obtaining her A and B certificates in a remarkably short time. We look forward to seeing much more of her now that she can fly unchaperoned!