Denis Woodhams, club member and new editor of The Buzz, our quarterly newsletter, had arranged a superb week-end centred around the Bidford Gliding Centre and the Arrow Mill Hotel. It was extremely disappointing therefore that the English weather once again played havoc with our plans. Most members planning to fly in had to settle for their car instead, although a determined Tony and Jill Ashmead, Phil and Sue Moore and Mike and Mary Smith managed to squeeze in under the cloud base. The Moores arrived in their Auster G-ASZE from Leuchars via an overnight at Valley. Other members arrived at various times and included John and Chris Eatwell, Denis White, Arthur Record, Denis Stanley, Martin and Jane Holloway, Bill Harris, Peter Lovegrove Ron and Jan Dobree-Carey and Nigel Ducker.

Denis Woodhams and his wife Margaret looked after us exceedingly well in this very attractive converted water mill set in sixty acres, in which, rumour has it, Denis will be creating an airstrip. What more could we possibly want ?

Bidford Gliding Centre is a few miles south of Arrow Mill , has an 800 metre strip, fuel and a clubhouse and it was to here that we repaired on Sunday morning after the previous nights barbecue(in between showers), talk in the bar until the early hours, followed by a hearty breakfast. The weather was sufficiently clear for members to experience glider flying and for flights in the J3 Cub. In addition more air experience was available because Mike Smith had parked his beautiful new R44 chopper on the hotels back lawn and very kindly gave flights to us all. Late Sunday afternoon we drove back south, ironically in brilliant glorious sunshine.