dinner 2003 2.jpg (25355 bytes)The Lakes Gliding Club Dinner on the 18th October 2003 was another success story. Organised by Linda with Andy Tebay assisting whilst undergoing further on the job training. The Chairman’s speech went down well and he hit the right note when we were invited to toast absent friends. The one downside of the evening was that Clarence House still has an odd interpretation of what a private room is. The food was excellent with matching  service. Notably Gordon Taylor behaved himself this year, which is more than the CFI did. Several members made a good impression of King Penguins, one with hidden colour; it however did allow the girls a chance to excel. Without wanting to appear sexist, they did us credit. (It’s a compliment) It was nice to see a number of new members participating.

 

The Chairman’ speech (taken straight from Hansard) (First Person, as it is easier than saying he, The Chairman then said Etc. For "I" read Rog said. Certainly uses I a lot)

 

rogerandjean2003.jpg (16814 bytes)Ladies, gentlemen (fellow alcoholics) etc, when I started this speech last year…. I said then that there had been a period of change within the club. I had hoped for a period of stability this year but alas it was not to be. The events of the year have been overshadowed by the terrible loss of two club members and friends… I refer of course to Lyn Martindale and Dick Redhead. Both were avid gliding enthusiasts, and both dedicated a hell of a lot of their spare time and energy in support of our club (both on and off the committee). Their efforts were much appreciated, & they will be sadly missed. I would like to dedicate this evening to their memory, and if you would charge your glasses…. I wish to propose a toast to ‘Absent Friends’. Lyn & Dick. Now, to quote John Martindale himself, we have now just got to ‘get on with things’, however difficult it may seem. That is what we must do.

 

We have had to make a few consequential changes to the committee. Peter Lewis has taken over the role of Club Treasurer. Some might say that putting a Yorkshireman in charge of finances is a bit like putting a fox in charge of the hen house, but I am sure that he will continue with this ‘thankless but very necessary’ task. As you all know he is no stranger to the job having ably assisted Dick through his period of ill health. He is however looking for a willing and enthusiastic understudy! So should anyone have a yearning to be Pete’s’  ‘apprentice bean counter’, it would make him a very very happy man indeed. Linda Dawson has been doing an excellent job as temporary Social Secretary, and in fact she organised this little soiree for us. Thanks a lot for that Linda, and whilst we are on the subject, I think perhaps a vote of thanks is also due to the Clarence House staff.    I’m sure you will all agree that the meal was superb.

 

Andy Tebay has agreed to pick up the position of Social Secretary on a permanent basis, so thanks for that Andy. That smooth tongued wordsmith Neil Braithwaite has taken over as Club Secretary, and is doing a fine job …. Thanks though go to Pete Seddon for his past efforts in that regard – they were much appreciated. We have embraced modern technology, and co-opted Peter Redshaw on to the committee, as our official ‘Web Meister’.  Those of you who are ‘internet literate’ who haven’t paid a visit to our club website (developed by Peter) should do so, as it is a veritable mine of information.

 

Our Safety Officer, the besotted Graham Welch has taken the plunge, and made an honest woman of his erstwhile fiancé Tracy, and I think we should offer Mr & Mrs Welch our sincere congratulations, and wish them many years of happiness together…… Graham & Tracy. Northy has ‘enjoyed’ (if that’s the right word) his first year as CFI and has been trying to batter some semblance of discipline into his miscreant gang of instructors. Good luck to him is what I say!

 

The Dreaded Fence deserves a mention……We have, for many years, enjoyed a cordial (if at times mutually wary) relationship with BAE Systems, who quickly came to realise that Lakes Gliding Club members need to be securely locked up at weekends. They were so convinced of this, that they spent a considerable amount of money erecting fences and barriers round the airfield perimeter to ensure that we all stay put.

After a degree of negotiation, we have finally arrived at a mutually satisfactory way of ensuring that club members are secured, but may still be let out occasionally, to be fed and watered.  Visitors may observe club members through the fence, looking at the sky shaking their heads and ….yes….very occasionally flying – however for their own safety, phone appointments are required to actually meet the members face-to-face.

 

A New Tug  At Last………Good old ‘Oscar Lima’ has been returned to its new owner, and in its place we have purchased ……you guessed it………yet another Super Cub - henceforth to be referred to as ‘Hotel Tango’. This machine has been busily earning its keep without drama. Peter Lewis (as his alter-ego of Resident Club Tug Instructor) has also used it to good effect, by putting all our existing tug pilots through their paces on a challenging BGA approved  ‘How to Fly a Tug’ course.

 

A Trip to France …..Suitably encouraged by their competition successes last year, Pete Redshaw & Dave North entered the Capstan in the French 2-seat competition and duly took themselves and a rather motley support crew down to Poitier Airport . This proved a journey too far for John Burdett’s’ trailer, who’s wheel bearing decided to give up the ghost in on the Autoroute. After the exchange of a considerable quantity of ‘Euros’ and the welcome help of an old friend and tug-pilot Pierre Delineau, the trailer axle was replaced. As to the competition?  Well the initial aim…. ‘to teach those Frogs how to fly’. Proved to be a just little ambitious. But they now, with Pete Lewis’s help, they have a shiny new French phrase book containing such choice titbits as… (with apologies to Jean Bruno Villette)

 

“Merdre” ……..(French for ‘Oh dear’???).

“Je suis aux vaches”  …. (Literally this means ‘I am with the cows’ but is a French expression for ‘I have landed out’).

“Nous sommes a terris” – (We are on the ground) also means ‘I have landed out’.

“Nous avons un altitude zero” (– I think you can translate that for yourselves.)

 

Perhaps you may have picked up a bit of a theme here………Now ….. far be for me to suggest that they landed out a lot, (I wasn’t there to witness it first hand) but suffice it to say that it was strongly rumoured they were all on first name terms with most of the local farmers by the end of the trip! But hey – It’s not important that they finished last - it’s not the winning, but the taking part that counts! What was lacking in the flying department however, was more than made up for on the entertainment front, as true to form, Pete Redshaw managed to set up his own Cinema on site. This was much appreciated by all – including all those bally foreigners!  That’ll show ‘em!

 

Now before I wind this up, I have to tell you that last year I was fed up with Northy giving out all the prizes, and I rather fancied presenting one myself…. Now I would accordingly like to call forward Lis Redshaw to accept a trophy!! You may not know but it is now the 35th time that Lis has attended one of these gatherings – it would be 37 times, but on one year her dad passed away (well it was the same day) and she couldn’t make it, and on another occasion she was ill (nearly in hospital, but the older man reckoned she was OK). It isn’t just 37 years of gliding bashes – don’t forget it is also having to ‘suffer’ 37 (sorry Rog it's 40) years of the ‘unwanted’ (at least that's accurate) attention of an ‘older’ man!!  She deserves all our sympathy!! Many congratulations!

 

I was sent a home video the other day by an appreciative old guy – Alan Hartley, who is an ex RAF flight mechanic – he was so taken with his 3 air experience flights, (unbelievable really as would you believe he had one flight with me and two with Roy Jones) – but so taken was he, that he recorded them for posterity on his camcorder and send a copy to me. But it made me look at our site from his eyes, and I suddenly realised that most of us take it all for granted. We are privileged to fly from what is still a stunningly beautiful & dramatic location, (no I don’t mean Barrow!!) and I hope that we continue to appreciate it and make the most of it.

 

Unfortunately even this will be initially challenged due to the (hopefully temporary) suspension of our operations from Walney during the (recently announced) airfield improvement programme. It is to be hoped for the clubs sake that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible by mid November.

 

OK - I will ramble on no longer – thanks for your time, & I will now hand you over to ‘Our man Northy’ to do his CFI bit. 

 

The CFI’s annual award of our numerous trophies was again gracefully assisted by Jean, our Chairman’s better half and senior partner. It has obviously paid for the Webmaster to complain about not receiving any trophies last year due to the lack of imagination and generosity by the CFI with his interpretation of the rules. This is how I remember the key parts of Northy’s speech.

 

The Duddon Trophy for outstanding services to the club went to Peter Redshaw for his work on the airfield fence and locked gate problem coupled with his role as Webmaster.

The Dodd Trophy for most outstanding progress during the year was clearly won by Jan Eldem who gained solo, Silver height, Gold Height and the Club Ladder in his first flying year. 

The Lonsdale Trophy for the best cross country from Walney went to Peter Redshaw for a 187 km triangle from Walney in a DG 800.

The Leighton Hall Trophy for the member making the most outstanding flight of the year from anywhere in the world. This went to Peter Redshaw for a 102km flight in France in the Capstan, personally witnessed by the CFI, Dave North, who could not believe it. (nor could P1)

The Alsford Trophy for the best gain of height went to Peter Lewis for a gain of 13650ft. (some envious character still thinks he was in the base of the airway) 

The Sir Leonard Redshaw Trophy for the best flight by a non Silver pilot was jointly awarded to Jan Eldem and Phil Storer. Phil for his Silver duration and Jan for his Gold height on his 7th solo.

The Club Ladder for the pilot with the most points claimed went to Jan Eldem with 11524 points. An excellent example of how the Club Ladder can be won by a member in their first year of flying. 

The Elegant Windows Trophy for the best flight in a two seater went jointly to Dave North and Peter Redshaw for a 185km flight in the Capstan in France .

The Optimum Financial Services Trophy for best gain of height in a two-seat glider. This was one by John Martindale and Emma Griffiths for a gain of 8600ft. 

dinner 2003 3.jpg (20195 bytes)The Wooden Spoon for the most meritorious clanger. Various references were made to member’s indiscretions but it was obvious that the CFI had it in for the webmaster. Copley and others should have been clear winners for wheel up landings, if not that then Peter Craven for getting extra flying in the tug after the glider had released. But no, apparently taking off with ones airbrakes open and then bending the total energy tube as one puts the glider in the trailer ranks higher. Yep, Peter Redshaw yet again. Who lost the Spoon?

 

Report by the Webmaster 24th October

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