A Brief History of Hang Gliding in Suffolk UK

Sorry that the early part of the Suffolk history is all David Cook and Terry Aspinall. Thats why I need your help. Can you PLEASE help me fill in the gaps. There were many other people flying during those early day and I would like to add their details to this page. People like Brian Griffths, Jim Dowe and Graham Drinkall, to name but a few. Especially Brian as I believe he was the very first to fly a weight shift Hang Glider in Suffolk?

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If you are interested in Hang Gliding and would like to learn more, why not contact the Suffolk Coastal Floaters.

http://www.scfhgc.connectfree.co.uk

1972

David Cook reads an article in a Pilot magazine about a foot launched Swing-wing, rigid hang glider with aerodynamic controls and a glide ratio of 9 to1. Known as a VJ23, it was built and designed by Volmer Jensen, a well respected aviation icon from.the USA.

David Cook checks out the Birdman Rally, held at Selsey Bill in Sussex. An annual event which offered £3000 to the first person who succeeds in flying the distance of 50 yards after leaping off the local pier.

1973

David Cook builds a VJ23 at a cost of £128 and learns to fly it along the 20m cliffs at Thorpeness, and in doing so become the very first person to fly a hang glider from that site and in Suffolk. He named his creation “AINITA TYB” (All I need Is The Air That I Breath) and had it inscribed along each side of the boom.

David Cook, Chris Tansley and Neil Moran all try to pioneer a new grassy slope at Iken just South of Snape. David is the only person who flew this site successfully in his VJ23.

VJ23

Dec Terry Aspinall watches “Magpie” A children’s television program featuring Ken Messenger from Birdman Sports showing the presenters of the show how to fly a hang glider. In order to find out more Terry wrote to the program asking for more details, and was highly delighted when the program responded and wrote back giving Ken’s address in Marlbough Wiltshire. Around that time Ken and Dave Raymond had undertaken the stunt flying for the film “Tommy” staring Roger Daltrey and produced by Ken Russell. Incidentally many years later Roger Daltrey flew one of David Cooks Shadows.

1974
 
David Cook becomes the first person to fly his VJ23 hang glider from the Minsmere cliffs in Suffolk. He was also and still is the only person given permission to fly from the site, it being a bird sanctuary.

David Cook flying his VJ23 along with Neil Moran flying his Icarus V pioneer a site just south of the Orwell Bridge. This is where David discovered 'ground-effect' he used in the Selsey Birdman efforts. The ground-effect flights were 40-50 yards longer than if a straight launch was used.

Icarus V

July  David Cook enters his first “Selsey Birdman Competition” along with helpers Chris Reilley and Neil Moran and 18 close friends to spur him on. David has since reported that the buoys marking the finish line looked more like 75 yards rather than the stipulated 50 yards, because the lateral flow of the tide had swept them further from their anchors. David wins the competition, but returns home with only £30 in his packet that was presented to him by Patrick Moore and a pretty young lady he did not know who she was.  It was also estimated that there were 20,000 spectators attending the event that year.

Sept Terry Aspinall picks up his Albatross 180 hang glider from Ken Messenger at one of the very first British hang gliding competitions being held at Mere in Wiltshire. Costing £250 plus 25% luxury tax. He also watched as the Wills Brothers who were over from the USA and flying their famous Swallowtails, walk away with most of the prizes.

Oct Terry Aspinall attempts his first a flight from Sizewell beach, which ended in disaster and a £50 damage bill.

Oct Terry Aspinall meets up with David Cook, and David agrees to help him learn to fly. And so along with Neil Moran who was learning to fly an Icarus 1V (a rigid wing) and Chris Tansley who at that time was trying to learn to fly a McBroom home built weight shift glider, he had purchased from Brian Griffiths (Ipswich). David would always describe the sail as being one of Brian's table cloths. They all spend many many weekends trying to fly by notching up hundreds of top to bottoms at Thorpeness. Many of which took place through the winter in extreme cold and sometimes gale force winds, all in the vain hope that the wind would eventually be of the right strength and direction.

1975

Brian Griffiths discovers Raydon and gains permission from the land owner to fly the site. Later David Cook, Chris Tansley, Neil Moran and Terry Aspinall all join him. David Cook breaks his arm while trying to fly a weight shift hang glider, having only flown aerodynamic control aircraft up to then. Later Graham Drinall also spent time with Brian Griffith's flying this site.

Brian Griffiths discovers what he believed to be a good learners site on the back roads from Woodbrige to Felixstowe. Along with Terry Aspinall they paid a visit to see if it could be pioneered. The slope was just what they were looking for, but access to the site was almost impossible, as they had to negotiate a large bog fully overgrown with reeds. An impossible task especially while trying to carry all of the equipment required to fly. The site also lacked a suitable landing area, as it was completely covered with gorse bushes.

July David Cook attends the “Selsey Birdman Competition” Along with Chris Tansley, Robert Jelliff and Bob Kent. Upon arrival they were confronted with a few rule changes from the previous year. The old imperial measurement had been changed into meters. This meant that David would have to now fly 66 meters. In order that David’s take off could be achieved without his VJ23’s tail hitting the edge of the pier, his helpers threw them self into the launch which meant a couple of them also went over the side of the pier and into the sea. A brave effort by Chris Tansley when you consider that he could not swim, and had to be rescued by Robert Jelliff and Bob Kent, 100 yards from the shore. David was later to say “His action was one of pure self-sacrifice and could truly be described as the meaning of 'having a mate’. Later when the boys were discussing the day’s events, David’s helpers told him that when they surfaced from their plunge into the sea, they could still see David in the air, gliding and using ground effect along the top of the water. To the accompaniment of stupendous roars of encouragement from the people lining the beach. Once again David won the event after reaching the 66 meter buoy. Unfortunately, the organisers argued that the spirit of the competition had been flaunted and the flight was not “by the sole means of the pilot”. Most who witnessed the event would tell you that they did not want to pay up, some even believing they never had the money in the bank in the first place.

Terry Aspinall and Chris Tansley, somehow manage to tame the Thorpeness cliffs and move onto Dunwich accompanied by David Cook. Terry was determined to be the first as a little rivalry had developed between them. Once arriving at Dunwich both raced to be the first weight shift hang glider to take off from the cliff. Terry was first but only by a margin of a few seconds. They spent the rest of the day repeating the feat many many times.

Albartross

1976

Early in 1976, David Cook, Terry Aspinall, Chris Tansley and Neil Moran all travel to Dunstable, to experience a flight from the top of a big hill. As was usual in those days, the safety officer from the local hang gliding club had to check over their gliders, to pronounce them safe to fly from their site. You wouldn't believe what some people were flying in those days. Terry kites is given the okay with no problems, but when it comes to Chris's home built McBroom, that he had bought from Brian Griffiths. There were a few problems mainly with the sail, and David didn't help matters by constantly telling the safety officer that it was dirty as we had not washed it after last nights meal. A reference that he always believed it to be one of Brian Griffiths table cloths. After having a look round it and genially feeling the sail material, he pronounced that he believed it had a couple of hours left in its flying life.

McBroom (McBrick)

1st Nov Terry Aspinall obtains his Elementary Hang Gliding Licence while flying at Dunstable, signed off by Simon Wotton from the Dunstable club. This was the very first licence system that the BHGA introduced.

1977

June John Wells spends three months building a rigid wing hang glider known as a “Fledge”.

David Cook decides to add a McCulloch 101 go-cart engine (weighing only 12lb) on top of the wing of his VJ23 rigid wing hang glider, and carved his own propeller, that took him over 20 hours and produced only 45 lbs of thrust, later that year its believed that he became the first person to fly a powered rigid wing hang glider in the UK

16th Sept Terry Aspinall obtains one of the first issued FIA Sporting Licence's, what was then the requirement to fly a hang gliding competition. Licence No 008 and signed by Keith Cockcroft

24th Sep Terry Aspinall becomes the first weight shift pilot to take off and soar the Dunwich cliffs, flying a Birdman Moonraker 77 glider. While John Wells was a close second, flying his Fledge. However, it has to be added that David Cook had been soaring the Dunwich cliffs for a couple of year, having taken off from the lowwer Minsmere bird sanctuary cliffs south of Dunwich. David had special permission to fly from this site and at no time did other members use that site in case David's permission was with drawn, which is why it was crucial to pioneer the Dunwich site.

Fledge

28th Sept Terry Aspinall obtains his Pilots Wings and is registered with the BHGA as fully passed out hang glider pilot. Pilot number 436 and signed by Anne Welch the then secretary of the BHGA.

8th Oct Terry Aspinall becomes the first person to soar a hang glider at Bawdsey Cliffs by the RAF Station, flying a Moonraker 77.

4th Dec Terry Aspinall attempts to be the first to fly Sizwell cliffs, but only gets halfway along the cliffs (dunes)

Birdman Moonraker 77

1978

9th May David Cook (at 37) became the first person to fly across the English Channel in a powered hang glider. Using a 9hp McCullock 101 go-cart engine. With an all up weight of only 150lb. It was a great achievement, as he had only used a quarter of the power which took Louis Bleriot (also at 37) on his record breaking Channel flight in 1909. David flew from Dover in Kent UK, and land in France at Bleriot-Plage just south of Calais. The record breaking flight had lasted one hour and fifteen minutes, during which he had reached a height of approximately 250ft above the waves. Upon landing there was only three minutes of fuel remaining in the two tanks he had on board, sufficient only to fill an egg cup. David's helpers were Catherine his wife, Chris Tansley the none swimmer, Harry Potter, Les Wallen, Martin Lanham, Brian Pattenden, and John Wells. David was later awarded the Royal Aero Club Bronze Medal for aviation achievement, at the Royal Aero Club in London. Being presented by His Royal Highness Prince Charles. His success in this venture led to sponsorship from Duckhams Oil and there followed a period of many demonstration flights at most of the major air shows. The next day Ipswich won the FA Cup. David drove home to a double calibration. At the time David was working for Richard Garretts of Leiston, and one of his bosses Sheikh Mohamed Y Al Bedrawi was so excited at what he had achieved, that he gave David £1000.

9th May Terry Aspinall while flying at Mundesley in Norfolk has a near miss with one of Bristow’s Helicopters returning from an oil rig. The incident was reported and Terry was found guilty by the C.A.A. but with no further action taken against him, for violating the approach path to the helicopters landing zone. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Norfolk club as they were given official authority to fly the site. While Notams were published at the nearby Coltishall RAF station, that when the wind was in a north to north east direction there was a possibility that hang gliders would be flying the northern coast line.

25th May Terry Aspinall crashed in to the Cromer golf course while flying a Moonraker 77 narrowly missing golfers who were out on the course at the time. He was lucky to walk, away after being caught in the rotor above the take off area, only sustaining a couple of broken ribs.

20th Sept The Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Glider club visited Cork in Southern Ireland, to fly against the locals. A good time was had by all. The event was sponcers by Murphy's Brewery. I grand party was organised and held in the brewery board room. They had allocated 15 pints per person at the party. Some of the Suffolk members awoke the next morning still laying under the board room table. Needless to say they were not very impressive when it came to the flying during the following day at Castle Freke. Terry Aspinall wrote off John Sharps Moonraker 77 while flying 15 foot sand dunes trying to show the locals how its done, the flying of 15 foot sand dunes, not the crash.

1979

David Cook and colleague Neil Moran set to work trying to design a man-powered aircraft to win the covered Krammer prize of £50,000. David boss at Richard Garrett allowed him to use one of their very large empty warehouses. It became known as the "Mus-Fly" project and after a design was drawn up, work commenced in the evenings and at weekends. Over a long period of time David spent many hours working by himself, with just a few of his old friends dropping in occasionally to help him out, like Chris Tansley and Terry Aspinall. At that time there were several other people around the world all working on being the first to cross the English Channel by manpower. However, although David's idea revolved around a tandem bicycle, it's propulsion system was different. Instead of the peddles going around David's went up and down like a pump. So not only where they building the aircraft they were also in constant training mood, so when the big day came they would already be fit for the 22 mile push bike ride across the channel. I believe that it was David and Chris the none swimmer, who were going the be the athletic power hub of the attempt. Sadly the were beaten by the Americans with Paul McCready at the wheel of the Gossamer Albatross. However, it is widely accepted that his work on this project, was a valuable experience for what lay ahead of him in the aviation industry.

18th Mar  Terry Aspinall was soaring Corton in a Moonraker78, but who was first?????? Possibly Paul Whitley?????

Birdman moonraker78

4th April, Saw a small group of flyers from the Norfolk Hang Gliding club brake away to try and form a Suffolk club, they later became known as the “Infamous Five” (Terry Aspinall, Alan Snowling, Mel Mayes, John Sharp and David Taylor). However, they had gauged the mood right, as nine other fellow pilots turned up for a meeting organised by Mel Mayes and held at "The Admiral's Head" in Great Bealing where he lived at the time. The main item on the agenda was the forming a Suffolk Hang Gliding Club. Some of those attending were. David Cook, Terry Aspinall, Mel Mayes, John Sharp, David Taylor, Chris Tansley, Neil Moran, John Wells, Brian Pattenden, Who can fill in the other 5 names for me? One of the main reasons for the break away, was the distance Suffolk and Essex flyers had to travel to a club meet usually held in Norfolk. That was usually poorly attended by Norfolk flyers, even though the meetings were close for them.

18th April, Terry Aspinall informs the national body, the British Hang Gliding Association (BHGA) of the formation of a Suffolk club. The Suffolk club was temporary added to the BHGA club list and a request made by the BHGA to seek "member club" status after consultations and discussions with all the other hang gliding clubs.

2nd May A meeting was held at the  "Dukes Head Hotel, Stowmarket" 13 members attended the meeting. Membership at that time stood at 20.

1st June. At a club meeting Terry Aspinall came up with the name "Coastal Floaters" and gives the following explanation. “At the time I was flying Birdman Hang gliders and they came out with the Moonraker series (1977). Brian Griffith's and myself visited their factory in Marlbough, and in one of their promotional leaflets they set about describing its flying characteristics and about how good it was to fly at inland sites. It went on to add that it was definitely not a "Coastal Floater". That name stuck in the back of my mind. A few years later I talked it over with Alan “Snowy” Snowling  and he liked it, but it took us a hell of a lot of hard work to convince other member at a club meeting, to adopt the name. In the early days there was a little bit of a stigma about flying on the coast, while most of the serious flying was being under taken at inland sites. Catherine Cook designed a Suffolk Coastal Floaters logo and still has the original. While David bought the iron-on stickers for Tee-shirts, and still as a few for sale!!!

25th July First club flying meet at Thorpeness cliffs. A great display by David Cook on his powered VJ23. The one used on the first powered hang glider flight across the Channel. Later, in “The Dolphin Inn”, there was a discussion on the Dartmore Bill, with a view to lobbying MP’s. Also discussion about tow systems from L Gabrriels and Baker Bros.

23rd September The BHGA officially recognises “Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Gliding Club”.

26th September Coincidentally a few days after recognition of the club a meeting was held at "The Fleece" in Bungay in conjunction with the Norfolk club. Nearly 60 people attended for a discussion on towing and a film show. It was at this meeting that Suffolk Club member Brian Pattenden was the first person to put forward the idea of towing the man and not the glider. He experienced a lot of flack over his idea, and at times it was a little embarrassing at the way he was ridiculed by many who had attended the meeting. Strange how a decade later this method, was to become the main activity of the Suffolk club.

6th Oct Terry Aspinall & Alan Snowling were Soaring Felixstowe, Terry in a Cherokee and Snowy in a ??    But who was first at this site ??????

6th Oct Terry Aspinall & Alan (Snowy) Snowling were soaring Walton on the Naze. Terry in a Cherokee and Snowy in a ??    But who was first at this site ?????? Possibly Graham Drinkall????

Birdman Cherrokee

Later that year the first national tow meet was held near Little Snoring, in Norfolk and everybody in the country who had designed a tow winch were invited to attend, The event was hosted by the Norfolk club. Word had leaked out that the Suffolk Club was planning their own tow meet. Eventually both the Norfolk and Suffolk clubs got together and agreed on pooling their resources. The Suffolk Club helped with the organisation although the majority of it was undertaken by the Norfolk Club. It would have been an absolute waste, have two meeting at the same time. The Norfolk Club  did a great job, but sadly it was marred by a fatality during the event. The meeting also played a big part in the coming together of both clubs after a messy split when a few members broke away from the Norfolk club to form the Suffolk club. From then on both clubs seemed to get on with each other, and later even held flying competitions between the clubs.

1980

23rd Mar Terry Aspinall takes off and soars Sizewell for the very first time followed very closely by Alan (Snowy) Snowling

5th April Terry Aspinall Soars Mundesley for 4 hours 41mins.

6th Sept  Terry Aspinall has accidentally parachute deployment at the British Hang Gliding Championships being held at Mere in Wiltshire, however he lands safely but breaks his sternum. Claimed to be the first parachute deployment from a hang glider in the UK, even though it was accidental.

1981

Glenn Read joins SCFHGC at a time when the club is very social. Affectionately known as “The Suffolk Coastal Picnickers” due to flyable days at Corton / West Runton being very scarce. Many hours and weekends were spent sitting in sun or playing the pitch + putt. While regular monthly meetings in the pub were well attended and great fun was had by all as flying was rare.

Also by this time several of the members were concentrating on building power units for their hang gliders, in order to take off in areas where the pilots lived. The idea was to gain as much height as was required to catch a thermal and to then switch off the engine. However, it did not work out quite like that. Pilots seemed to enjoy their flying with the engine left running. Hence plenty of cross country flying, but with out the aid of a thermal.

1982

13th February EGM held to discuss obtaining a license to fly Felixstowe and permission to fly Bawdsey.

March 1982. Club meeting held at Ipswich Airport. Bob Wooltorton gave a short talk relating his recent experiences with a fixed line tow launch system at Broome airfield. The line is fixed to a new harness and bridle devised by Howard Edwards and Andy Brough. The other end is attached to the tow vehicle roof rack, from where a safety man also observes launch and flight. Stable launches were obtained with 350 – 400 ft on a 550ft line.

June 6th 1982 Brian Wooltorton dies on tow at Worminghall Airfield Oxfordshire, on a fixed line demonstration flight to the BHGA. Glider tucked in from 80' onto concrete runway.

August Bob Wooltorton obtains his instructors certificate and the club purchases a Wasp Falcon 3 as a training glider. Used at Raydon, maximum flight time was 15 seconds.

1983

10th March First issue of Release the club magazine put together by Bob Wooltorton.

March Aerotowing discussed but too fast for current hang gliders.

March Bob Wooltorton qualifies as an instructor.

27th April Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Gliding Club AGM

June Sean Myles attend a towing seminar in Germany, bring back a video.

5th June Terry Aspinall flies closed circuit from Thorpeness to Bury, to Norwich, and home back to Thorpeness on Typhoon S and Tri Pacer 330 twin, setting new National and possibly also European record.

September Dave Ellis, Steve Field, Glenn Read, Tony Girling, and Trevor Scott in training.

28th September Terry Aspinall becomes club president.

9th October Steve Hillyard wins Raydon cow pat trophy, Dave Abbott is second.

Autumn Another trip to South Wales involving Sean Myles

13th November Epic day at Corton with 18 gliders rigged. Bob Wooltorton top lands in gorse bush, first soaring flights by Glenn Read, Dave Ellis and Bill.

3rd December Christmas Fancy dress party at The Haven, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich. Bar, Buffet, Disco for £2.50

1984

18th February Terry Aspinall while flying a dual Mainair Striker Trike, had a camera man kneeling behind him, filming one of David Cooks prototype Shadows. Terry flew in a straight line while David make several fast passes, fly straight at him and only veering away at the very last moment. The footage was to be used on some of the Shadow promotion material.

29th February Following observers proposed to cover a wide spread area of club, 1 Ed Potter Newmarket and Cambridge area.2 Graham Drinkall Colchester area. 3 Tony Patterson Colchester area. 4 Steve Hillyard Felixstowe area. 5 Dave Abbott Woodbridge area.

17th March Terry Aspinall while flying a Mainair dual Striker Trike, attempts a record flight, flying from the East coast to the West coast England. David Cook as an qualified observer, saw him off after signing his Barograph, from the Thorpeness cricket field. Conditions were not good with a 25mph N by NE wind. What he really needed was an East wind to help push him along, and save fuel. Somewhere near Cambridge he went through a thunder storm and his Barograph show a dramatic drop in altitude of over a thousand feet. Somehow he managed to keep control and weather the storm. Halfway across the country he knew he was in trouble, and was not going to make his target, eventually running out of fuel somewhere near Shogdon just over the border into Wales. For Terry this was a make or break attempt. A few years earlier he had discussed with David that he would be happy to hold a world record even if it were only for one day. He knew that the next weekend David was going to attempt a record breaking flight from Thorpeness the Lands End in his Shadow. Against which Terry had no chance of beating, the Shadow was way ahead of any other Microlight flying at that time. David's Shadow did break the record but it was flown by Pete Davies. As a foot note Terry's ground crew consisted of just one man, Trevor the owner of the Striker. Most of the roads in England run North to South and Trevor was crossing all of them. Every half an hour he would have to find a call box to phone Terry's wife Emily, to find out if he was down, that's hoping Terry could also find a call box, to let her know where he was. Terry landed in a farmers very small field and upon knocking on the farmers door was greet by a guy who claimed he'd seen Terry land, as he was sitting by a window undertaking a written exam for his pilots licence. Trevor arrived only thirty minutes later to pick him up, which was the best achievement of the day.

March Cow Pat Trophy won by Dave Ellis, second place Tony Patterson.

28th March Monthly club meeting venue changes to the The Old Bell on corner of Vernon Street and Stoke Street. Still the last Wednesday of every month.

16th June Terry Aspinall crashes 2 seater Solar Wings Panther XL Trike while demonstrating with a customer on board. Both were uninjured accept Terry's pride. It being his only crash ever in a powered hang glider.

September Club does well at the British Hang Gliding Championships being held at Mere in Wiltshire. Bob Wolltorton 1st S/S L/D. Tim Dunn equal 2nd S/S. Tony Patterden equal 2nd S/S.

1985

January The SCFHGC presents Terry Aspinall with an olde world style Testimonial as a going away present from the club. It reads, Testimonial to Terry Aspinall, President of the Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Gliding Club. This Testimonial records that Terry Aspinall was the founder of the SCFHGC, and was its first Secretary and news letter editor and princible driving force in the clubs foundation. He is a pilot of exceptional character, ability, dedication and enthusiasm in the sport of hang gliding. We regret that he is leaving these shores, his friends and flying companions, but we all wish him Bon Voyage. May success and good fortune follow him and his family in his new life in New Zealand. It's then signed by the following Pete Bowden, Bob Wolltorton, Dave Abbott, John Kerr, Steve Hillyard, Glen Read, Tony Paterson, Bill Weston, Steve Voller, Steve Welch, David Cook, John Marwin?, Graham Drinkall, Steve Hariss?, P H Price, John ?, Terry Hill and Tony Girling. Terry has since responded, that it turned out to be a good move for him and his family, as all ended up with their own highly successfully businesses'.

28th January Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Gliding Club meeting. Terry Aspinall gives up the Presidents title.

10th Febuary Terry Aspinall and family pack their bags and move to New Zealand, where he is to build a factory for Bernard Matthews, and also sadly loses contact with the SCFHGC.

One of the infamous "Five Mel" Mayes retires from flying Hang Gliders.

1986

9th July The BHGA are informed of our purchase of a winch from the Lomond club and bridles from Tony Webb and Mike Lake.

9th September Tow approval confirmed in a letter from Mark Dale. We joined 12 fully approved and 5 probational tow groups in the country. With the CAA under considerable pressure from commercial groups to ban tow launching it was only with regulation by the BHPA that saved the day. A couple of weeks later towing was established at Metfield.

1987

The SCFHGC lose a competition against Eastern Airsports club

Glenn, Bob, Eric and ??? fly Devil's Dyke near Brighton.

May 23rd Alan Snowling gets to 2500' over Cromer and flyers a 36mph ridge run on Magic IV. Witnessed by Phil Chettleburgh wife Angie, and Matt Roberts .

A flying trip takes place to Rhosilli.

One of the "Infamous Five" Mel Mayes Immigrates to the USA, where he becomes a civilian pilot, flying Lear Jets

June 11th First barbecue of year at Eric's house

Cross Countries were starting to happen and Ed Potter is mentioned.

Antony becomes an agent for C&J.

August First competition at Banham Zoo

A competition is suggested for 1988 with a minimum distance of a staggering 5 miles.

November 18th Antony Shaw becomes the editor of Release.

1988

Glenn Read becomes club chairman

January Talk of new pilot rating scheme to replace the ten year old P1, P2 and P3.

February The new winch is still out of action and forced to use the single drum winch.

14th April Pete Bowden is last person to fly Bawdsey as door is shut 'quite tightly' on future flying. The site later reopened in 1990

7th May Club trip to Merthyr in Wales.

5th June Ed Bowman dies in towing accident at Metfield.

1st - 3rd July Club trip to Sheffield by seven members, some in a hired transit van.

11th - 12th July Club trip to Crickhowell in Wales by a dozen or so pilots.

7th August Paul Smith watches Alan Snowling fly his new Magic IV at Metfield, as has weak wrist.

27th - 29th August The Banham Zoo competition, the "Banham Classic". £3 per pilot split 50/50 between prize and club funds. Penguin drop planned and happened? £100 presented to the zoo for their Penguin project. Matt Roberts flies 38 miles. Mick Goad wins novice trophy and Ray Cooper the Bowman trophy for safest pilot on the tow line.

10th October Anne Bowman does tandem parachute jump at Ipswich airport.

October Coincidentally, it is decided at both the monthly SCFHGC meeting and the Norfolk Hang Gliding Club AGM that relations between the two clubs should be improved. Phil Chettleburgh also just elected new chairman of the Norfolk club at their AGM. Five Suffolk pilots in Glenn Read's wagon head up for a meeting, out numbering the pilots from Norfolk they meet.

10th/11th December Sean Myles flying in Wales.

Dec Terry Aspinall flys to Europe on bussiness and stops off in Engaland on the way home for a couple of Days. Meets up with several club members at Pete Bowdens for an early Christmas Party.

Christmas bash, held at the British Legion Hall in Felixstowe, well organised by Caroline and Eric, with an £80 profit for club. Alan Snowling made £120 from the Christmas draw, Matt Roberts won the Bowman shield for longest XC of the year, while Richard Eve was runner up.

1989

January Ken Swain has good flight but hurts himself in club trip to Lanzarote.

8th January Tony Dawson converts to chest release at Metfield with help from Richard Eve, Matt Roberts and Allan Snowling.

January Terry Aspinall makes contact with Anne Bowman (Release Editor), and starts sending regular "Letter from Australia" articles for the club Release Magazine.

22nd February Club meeting in "The Old Times" pub on Spring Road, Ipswich.

March? Jon Drake wins the Cow Pat Trophy.

April Paul Smith posts his first article on knots, weak links and threaders. Modern system. Tim Dunn steps down as secretary and Alan Snowling steps up. The club's local is Metfield.

April? Club trip to Wiltshire.

6th April Norfolk club host an evening with Suffolk club.

June A brand new Calypso, is 'cheap' at £1279.72 including VAT. Alan Snowling is the dealer.

17th June Club Barbeque at 7pm at Tim Dunn's place, £4 adults £2.50 children.

16th July Norfolk club has a step towing accident that according to Mark Dale 'could very easily have resulted in a fatality'. Winchman puts brake on during downwind leg.

July? Matt Roberts comes 8th in the Scottish Open.

August Club trip to BHGA Championships held at Mere in Wiltshire.

5th August Norfolk tow meet.

23rd August Monthly club meeting in "The Old Time" pub on Spring Road, Ipswich.

26th-28th August The Banham Zoo competition, entry fee £10 including camping, prizes, and family zoo pass. Paul Smith in charge of winch and winchman organisation. T-shirts sold by Allan Snowling for £7/£6.

11th September Sean Myles is amongst a group of pilots who jump the Gorleston Gap.

17th September Impromptu expedition by Anthony Shaw, John and Tony to fly Creek Road at Folkestone.

6th-7th October Tim Dunn , Anthony Shaw , Matt Roberts and ??? attend a BHGA club coaching course run by Mark Dale and Bob Harrison in the Dales.

18th October Tim Dunn and Paul Smith visit the Ipswich Young Farmers Association at the "Thomas Eldred" pub in Ipswich. Apparently it serves Tolly!

24th October Monthly club meeting venue changed to "The Brook Pub", Washbrook, near Ipswich.

Late October Sean Myles in Lanzarote.

Early December Club trip to Lanzarote.

End December Glenn Read, Tim Dunn, Allan Snowling , Matt Roberts and Anthony Shaw all become full tow coaches. Glenn Read now has 695 tows, Tim Dunn 491 and Allan Snowling 240. While Sean Myles, Richard Eve and Tony Patterson are winchmen. Average cost works out at one pound per tow. Winch Work - Matt Roberts works on torque converter, Pete Bowden installs big drum on one side, Paul Smith works on line tension indicator, Alan Warner changes line pulley arrangement. Around 20 XCs from 3 to 35 miles.
Estimated days flown in East Anglia in the 1980s (Source - Release!):

Year	Estimated days flown in the 1980's
1981	28
1982	16
1983	24
1984	17
1985	14
1986	15
1988	12
1989	11

1990

10th January Club meeting.

26th January Christmas Dinner at Don Gerardo's Restaurant, Buttermarket, Ipswich at 8pm.

April Lavenham closes. LoA with RAF Wattisham applied for, so we can use the old Mendlesham airfield for towing. Also talking to RAF Bawdsey about possibly re-opening the cliff site there.

7th April Roger Pearce and Alan Warner seriously injured in squalls while flying at Mundesley.

28th April Tim Dunn first XC to east coast from Metfield.

29th April 200' circuit and spot competition at Orwell school, Felixstowe.

April AGM, £1415 in, £325 out.

Easter Club trip to Firle.

23rd May Another mega day at Mundesley, with 2000' ato.

16th June 5.30pm Club barbecue (£3 adverts, £1.50 kids.

20th June Principles of Flight lecture at Glen Read's house.

27th June Damon Robinson, club liaison officer for BHGA, attended club meeting to discuss BHGA/BAPC merger.

5th July "Red Roofs" pub near Norwich airport (Norfolk club's regular meeting pub) - joint session on airlaw with Norfolk

14th July Club Car Rally.

21st/22nd July - 10 uprights, 1 leading edge, 1 bottom bar, 1 write off and 1 broken arm at Corton.

29th July Flying visit to Norfolk club.

August Club trip to Annecy.

18th August Club Barbecue at Glen Reads house(£3.50 adults, £1.50 children.

22nd August Club meeting at Suffolk Water Park, Bramford.

25th - 27th August Banham Classic (£15 flying, £7.50 non flying) won by Matt Roberts, press and tv coverage.

September Suzuki 250cc trials bike purchased.

Sometime BHGA EGM on amalgamation, 1300 votes cast and a third oppose. There are at this time 34 BAPC clubs (11 voted against).

14th -17th September Club trip to South Wales.

23rd October Bawdsey cliff site officially re-open (with rules) following negotiations with MOD.

31st October Club meeting.

13th December Club trip to Lanzarote .

Summer The club's best XC season to date (according to the February 1991 edition of Release.

1991

January At club meeting, member tows changed to £1, non-members £2. Contributions requested for Derek Austen's wife as he apparently had no insurance. Tim Dunn awarded Bowman shield and shortly to move from Suffolk.

8th February SCF annual dinner planned for Golden Panda, Northgate Street, Ipswich. Didn't happen, replanned for a fortnight after February club meeting.

27th February Club meeting.

March In club meeting, possibility of using Mendlesham was mentioned following a visit by Glenn Read. New committee elected as follows.

1. Chairman Glenn Read
2. Secretary Mick Goad
3. Treasurer Job Drake
4. Safety Officer Matt Roberts
5. Tech. Safety Officer Steve Hillyard
6. Competitions Officer Anthony Shaw
7. Sites Officer Paul Smith
8. Magazine Editor Anne Bowman

3rd March Mick Goad has an accident at Reydon which makes him unable to drive. It is video'd along with an accident by Matt Roberts sometime also around the same time.

4th April Club first aid evening at Red Roofs.

8th April Anthony Shaw holds a coastal training evening at his house.

Easter weekend Mendlesham flown for the first time.

20th/21st April Competition at Fransham against Norfolk.

27th/28th April Airwave demonstration weekend.

29th May Paul Smith gives talk on Instrumentation as part of XCPC lectures at the monthly club meeting.

June Single winch being worked on without success by Pete Bowden. Club Stubby debated on in club meeting as to whether to keep it or not.

End July Club trip to Annecy.

12th/13th August Club competitions against Isle of Wight at home. Norfolk invited as home leg of our comp against them, not sure if they turned up? Lodgings provided by Glen Read.

7th/8th September Club competition at the Blorenge in Wales.

October Last club meeting at the Suffolk Water Park due to security problems.

3rd November Chili and Fireworks at Glen Read's house.

November Club meeting held at Glen Read's house . Small fire on the big winch.

1st December BHGA AGM, 69% vote for amalgamation. Longest XC flight from winch this year is 47.9 miles by Rona Webb.

21st December Christmas meal at the Crowfield Rose.

1992

Early Dave Whymark opens a tow school in Essex.

29th January Club meeting at Ipswich airport.

February CAA still investigating possibility of transponders.

26th February Club meeting at Kings Head pub in Woodbridge.

25th March Club AGM at Kings Head pub.

April Club meeting single drum winch exhaust repaired. Discussion about closing membership as prospect of large influx of new members!

17th/18th April Three team competition in the Peaks.

29th April Club meeting returns to Suffolk Water Park.

10th or 17th May Tow competition at Ipswich airport as part of their airsports day.

20th June Club Barbecue at "Cat and Mouse" pub.

11th July Club Barbecue at Matt and Jo's.

25th July Club Barbecue at Glenn and Emma Reads's.

8th August First Aid course at Witham.

29th - 31st August The Banham Classic weekend.

August/September BHPA amalgamation.

September Koch winch purchased from Scottish Paragliding Centre for £3000, single winch sold back to them.

November Old double winch now back in action. Planning permission applied for Mendlesham.

8th November Bonfire night at Glenn and Emma Read's.

19th December Club Christmas Meal at the "Maharini Indian" on Norwich Road in Ipswich.

1993

Club meetings now all held at Ipswich airport, which is up for closure.

March Stubby (previously not used for two years) now being used by Dave Whymark. Have new crimp tool with wire, and new winch operating well. "Cat and Mouse" pub for sale.

20th March First XC of the year by Keith Mathews.

28th April Club AGM.

May A student (Steve Clark) at Dave Whymark's school flies into power lines. Visiting pilot to Mendlesham takes out power lines and EEB send strong letter to farm manager and council. Pilot at Sculthorpe also flies into power lines, no serious injury.

24th May Glenn Read gives demonstration of noise from Shadow at Mendlesham.

29th June LoA with Wattisham to fly at Mendlesham. Winching now moves here as main base.

July Competitions was held at the Southern Club (at Devils Dyke). Old winch having new tension gauge circuit designed for it by Paul Smith. Radios repaired by Mike Sutton.

10th/11th July Competition with Dover at home.

17th/18th July Competition with Isle of Wight away.

24th July Parachute repack at Occold village hall.

31st July/1st August Competition with Wessex, probably at home. Did this happen? Clashed with Essex comp? Same thing?

August Banham Classic.

11th/12th September Semis for Airwave Challenge at Mynd, nine pilots out.

18th/19th September All Out! tow bash in Wiltshire.

24th-26th September Airwave Challenge final in SW Wales, four pilots and two retrieve drivers. The club came third!

9th/10th October The Ed Bowman Trophy competition hosted by Norfolk. Suffolk thrash Norfolk.

7th November Fireworks and buffet at Glenn and Emma Read's.

11th December Christmas meal at "Whitton Lodge", £14.25 per person.

23rd December Video evening at Glenn and Emma Read's.

New Years Eve Party at Neil and Maria's.

1994

Airwave Challenge The group Suffolk are in this year comprises:

1. Suffolk Coastal Floaters
2. Essex Hang Gliding Club
3. Thames Valley
4. Dover and Folkestone
5. Southern Club
6. Isle of Wight

February Mike Sutton produces a new large drogue design. Tony Southward of the Norfolk club looking for form another aerotow syndicate.

27th April SCFHGC AGM.

30th April - 2nd May British Open attended by pilots from the club led by Neil Hammerton.

7th/8th May First round of Airwave Challenge, won by Suffolk.

21st May Ed Potter flies the sea breeze front. Great article in the May edition of Release!.

21st/22nd May Second round of Airwave Challenge, won by Suffolk.

1st July Justin Needham completes a fai triangle. 141.71 km.

30th July Barbecue at Glenn and Emma Read's.

Summer Ed Potter producing the "East Anglian Thermaller".

l6th-13th August Airwave European Challenge at Laragne. Four Suffolk pilots joined by four from the Jersey Hang Gliding Club.

13th August Anthony Shaw has a parachute deployment at Mendlesham.

2nd - 4th September Airwave Club Challenge final.

10th/11th September All Out! Planned to be at Swansea Airport, but moved at last moment to North Repps on a couple of fields owned by Chris Gurney. Event organised by Phil, Angie, and Graham Malone. The flying side was organised by Tony Webb. Quite succesful considering the time span available, and the budget allowed. Also the fact that it was a sod to get to for anyone outside ES. Dave McEwen won the XC comp, flying for Suffolk.

November Rex Garrod continues to help out by modifying the bike trailer, earlier this year sorted out some winch rollers on the 'old' (Princess?) winch.

6th November Club Bonfire Night party at Glenn and Emma Read's.

12th November Club Paintball at Pettistree near Woodbridge.

Mid-November Lanzarote trip organised by Richard Eve.

16th December Christmas Meal £14.50 a head at "The Ostrich Inn", Wherstead, Ipswich.

New Year's Eve Party at Tony and Christine's

1995

The Suffolk club has four league pilots this year: Neil Hammerton, Ed Potter, Simon Twiss, and Justin Needham. Paul Lester is sky god this year romping away with 150 miles, nearly three times more than second place Jerry Bewick.

Sometime Third edition of club handbook published.

12th January Committee meeting called to discuss dual flying off winch, club prepared to pay 75% of cost of course for three pilots. The candidates were Neil Hammerton, Richard Eve, and Glenn Read.

18th February Neil Hammerton and Rob Fox fly cross country to the coast!

22nd February Club meeting votes 18 for, 3 against, principle of buying a dual glider (around £2000) to introduce people to the sport. Actually buying one was voted down, but a proposal was accepted to look at the club spending #1000 in six months time if Neil Hammerton could come up with a package by then. Concern that wouldn't actually do much to bring new pilots in and would take up time on the field.

4th March First Aid course at Witham organised by Richard Eve.

April Paul Lester offers to construct glider rack in hangar. Club fees remain at £16. Tony and Christine are new ring in contact for flying of a weekend.

1st-2nd April 1st Round of Airwave Challenge in Derbyshire, against Derbyshire, Peak, and Wales. Suffolk team was Neil Hammerton, Rob Fox, Paul Smith, Paul Lester, Les Wilson, and Andy Palmer.

5th April 7pm parachute repack at Whitton Sports Centre, Ipswich.

26th April AGM at Ipswich Airport.

6th-8th May Ed Bowman trophy at Norfolk, counted as 2nd Round of Airwave Challenge.

7th May Club purchases ex-RAF drogue chutes as used in ejector seats, cost £30 each. Bob Cogman initially going to make some but sourced these for us instead. These same drogue chutes were continually used and finally replaced in 2007 so got money's worth!

12th May Crop landing fine of £1 introduced for Mendlesham, exemption for novice pilots.

June Club purchases the Honda 250cc bike for £100, hoping to sell the white 440cc bike for £250.

9th June Pete Bowden, Pete Deer, Gary Aldous and Steve Hillyard compete at the Airwave Isle of Man Open (ManxTT) and come first in the team event.

July Vote against dual glider. Paul Lester constructs glider rack in hangar taking all day on one of the hottest of the year.

1st July Barbecue arranged by Philippa.

20th July Justin Needham flies 141 miles from Bradwell to Mendlesham!

11th - 27th August Club trip to Piedrahita organised by Neil Hammerton. Cost £472 a head + flying cover + food. Christine produces luminous XC retrieve cards for this and the club in general.

12th August Usual rigged glider display at Wetheringsett Fete.

25th - 28th August Airwave Club Final in Wales.

30th August Club meeting votes for free paraglider winch training for those winchman who want it. To be recinded at next meeting if sufficient people turn up to vote against!

30th August Glenn Read writes to RAF Honnington asking whether could use it for Hang Gliding.

9th November Visit to RAF Honnington to discuss Hang Gliding, restrictions would make it no better than Mendlesham and there would be a cost.

3rd September Hangar clearout at Mendlesham.

19th November Mega height on tow at Mendlesham.

New Year's Eve Party at Tony and Christine's

1996

January Christmas Dinner probably held at the "Wild Man", Sproughton.

January Pete Bowden repaired tank on Suzuki (yellow trails bike).

28th February SCFHGC meeting.

27th March SCFHGC meeting.

31st March A rare visit to Parham.

24th April SCFHGC AGM.

27th April Italian meal in Ipswich.

4th - 6th May British Open held in Wales. Richard Eve, Paul Lester, and Paul Smith were among the Suffolk crew.

12th May Mick Goad fortunate enough to fly the sea breeze front over Debenham.

24th May "10th Anniversary of Towing" at Suffolk celebrated.

29th May SCFHGC meeting.

1st June Barbecue at Jerry and Sue's place.

8th June Ed Bowman competition held in Norfolk.

8th - 10th June the Isle of Man open.

15th - 16th June All Out! at Kemble. This turned out to be the best All Out! ever with a great venue, great music, great weather, and lots of new flying things (powered hang gliders, powered paragliders, topless gliders). Peter Harris and Andy Palmer did an aerotow conversion over the weekend.

2nd June Car rally after flying.

August New plastic "double H" purchased for £95.88. Richard Hunt builds the first of several new tension gauges for the Princess winch, the first one was used at Banham.

3rd August Glenn and Emma Read's first anniversary party, SCFHGC invited.

24th - 26th August Last competition at Banham Zoo, change in the land use prevented any return visits. Approach made to Zoo again by Richard Hunt in 2000 and again in December 2006. No longer possible.

28th August SCFHGC meeting.

25th September SCFHGC meeting.

28th September Downwind dashes then Mexican meal in Ipswich.

October Pete Bowden modifies Koch winch brake cables, adding turnbuckles.

30th October SCFHGC meeting.

2nd November Parachute repack at Occold village hall.

November Koch winch out of action as it leaks transmission oil out of the radiator.

27th November Hangar broken into at Mendlesham, all five handheld radios stolen. The old CB radios in wooden trays were left.

27th November SCFHGC meeting.

14th December Christmas Meal at "Westerfield House" Hotel, 45 people attend (!) at £19.95 a head.

End of December Ipswich airport closes. A new venue is required for club meetings.

1997

An eventful year with Rob Fox landing in a tree at Annecy and discovering Wallaby Ranch and Richard Hunt having a run in with a farmer and then blowing up the club winch.

22nd February First Aid course at "Red Cross" centre, Chevalier Street, Ipswich.

15th February First ever aerotow to winch conversion given by Suffolk club to Paul Bennett.

25th January Koch winch is running again after being repaired by Pete Bowden. Oil observed to still be getting quite hot.

26th March Club meeting at the Gainsborough Sports Centre meeting room.

30th April SCFHGC AGM at the "Brewery Tap" pub.

3rd May Andy ??? turns on crosswind launch and crashes into cars, hitting Bev Sutton. Suffers from concussion but checks out OK. Pilot ok but believed to have given up flying shortly after?

31st May Barbecue at Jerry and Sue's place.

July Another break in at the hangar, this time yellow bike and petrol stolen. The chains had been cut.

30th July SCFHGC meeting at the "Brewery Tap".

16th August Richard Hunt has glider confiscated by farmer at Red House Gislingham after landing in field of cows next to farmhouse (and farmer). Glider was actually the universities and the whole sorry tale is related in the club magazines. The short version is that we attempted to get glider back by walking in and failed, eventually collected glider few weeks later, and farmer attempted to sue Richard (or BHPA insurance anyway) a few years later! He failed. Not a nice man and was no stranger to the courts at the time.

23rd - 26th August Club competition at Mendlesham. Avian come down to demo gliders. Attempt made to retrieve Richard's glider (see above).

24th August Barbecue and Swim after flying at Glenn and Emmas.

28th August Club meeting at the "Brewery Tap".

24th September Club meeting at the "Brewery Tap".

5th October Richard Hunt gets his (univerisity) glider back.

25th - 26th October Richard Hunt, Peter Harris and Lee Hockley attend coaching course in the Peaks.

29th October Club meeting at the "Brewery Tap".

26th November Club meeting at the "Brewery Tap".

December Club trip to Lanzarote.

13th December Richard Hunt is operating the club Koch winch with Lee Hockley on the other end of the line wheen he gets covered in transmission oil. This ignites across electrics and winch shortly engulfed in flames. Richard legs it leaving Lee to fend for himself. Cable goes over power lines and shorts out. Jerry Bewick picks up Richard in his van, then both go back to recover bike thinking petrol tank has now blown. Recover bike (warm!), petrol tank blows, batteries blow, white flames, acrid smoke, no attempt by Lee to thermal.

13th December Christmas Dinner Dance at "Melton Grange" Hotel, £23 each and rooms available to stay overnight (which most people take advantage of). Pilots pass fire engines going the other way to put out Koch fire (see above)!

1998

10th January First days flying since Koch caught fire. Now have another Koch on loan from the Combined Forces (arranged by Mark Lewis but used Princess on N-S runway at Mendlesham due to conditions.

28th January Club meeting in the "Brewery Tap". Theory of flight lecture by Paul Smith.

25th February Club meeting in the "Brewery Tap". Weather lecture by Richard Hunt.

28th February First aid course at "Red Cross" Centre in Chevallier Street, Ipswich.

25th March SCFHGC meeting in the "Brewery Tap".

April SCFHGC trip to Chamonix with Paul Smith, Mick Goad (forgot his harness and helmet, never ticked off his list!),Russell Holden, Les 'oneski' Wilson, Lee Hockley and Jim Moffatt. Koch winch back in action after service by Pete Bowden. Lots of discussion amongst people and the BHPA about certified and safe chest releases.

29th April SCFHGC AGM at Glenn's house. Paul Bennett gives lecture on airlaw.

15th May Glenn Read and Mick Goad drive 900 miles to collect the replacement winch (from ?). Combined Services Koch winch returned to Wattisham for their trip to Wales.

May or June Festival of Free Flight (All Out!) at RAF Wroughton. Armed police came in to shut down the disco! Rob Fox flies to Thorpeness again (previous time a few years back)), this time crashes on golf course.

27th May Club meeting in the "Brewery Tap".

6th June USAF Veterans visit to Mendlesham.

24th June SCFHG Club meeting in the "Brewery Tap". Richard Hunt discussing prospect of having Mendlesham Mandy.

July Decision made to buy the new winch.

25th July Phil Chettleburgh and Dave McEwan depart for Ager.

29th July SCFHG Club meeting in the "Brewery Tap".

8th - 9th August SCFHG Club trip to the Peaks led by Richard Hunt with Lee Hockley and Russell Holden.

15th August Gary Dinsdale, Graham Drinkall and Steve Hillyard leave to fly in Ulster Hang Gliding competions.

16th August SCFHG Club trip to the Long Mynd by Russell Holden, Justin Bewick, Mick Goad and ??? meeting up with Tim Dunn.

24th August Lee Hockley dies in a mid-air at Devil's Dyke.

29th - 31st August Alternative Banham Comprtition held at Mendlesham.

September Local resident puts ball bearings in microlight tug at Fransham and other damage to club and school equipment. Never prosecuted as insufficient evidence. Suffolk club, amongst others, makes a donation to Lejair and they continue on.

10th November Experiments on Dave Whymark's Koch winch to check out tension.

End November SCFHG Club trip to Lanzarote.

5th December Christmas Dinner Disco at Copdock "Moat House" Hotel, £25.50 per head.

1999

Philippa Jarvis makes the league this year. The Club finishes 7th in the National Cross Country League.

January Neil Hammerton and Andy Palmer drive to Chamonix for a weekend (leaving Friday night, back in work Monday!) of skiing and flying!!!

4th February Paul Smith kicks off millenium edition of the club handbook.

Sometime SCFHG Club trip to Chamonix.

31st March SCFHG Club meeting.

April Airwave goes into receivership.

3rd April Parachute repack in Occold village hall.

28th April SCFHGC AGM.

26th May SCFHG Club meeting.

29th - 31st May Ed Bowman competition against Norfolk and North Norfolk. Field rent waived as thank you for donation to Lejair in September.

June Jim Moffatt sets up the club's first website at the now defunct http://www.scfhgc.freeserve.co.uk.

Summer SCFHG Club once again takes a winch to All Out! (aka Festival of Free Flight).

Summer SCFHG Club trip to Laragne with Richard Hunt, Ian Foxwell, Kate Diamond, and Rob Fox which also involved falling off St Hilaire. Ian almost gets stuck on top of Aspre when his cambelt snaps.

7th August Was to be a club competition at Mendlesham with campover and barbecue at Russell Holden's. Washed out so didn't happen, but bash went ahead. Winch was repaired in the day by Tony Dawnson and Jerry Bewick and Steve Elkins of Avian was down with the new Cheetah.

25th August Club meeting (still in "Brewery Tap")

28th-30th August Blorenge Bash! Following the successful purchase of the Blorenge the SE Wales club arranged a party. Lots of beer, good music, and flying (including at Rhosilli) by several people from the Suffolk club.

September Jim Moffatt donates mobile phone for club use.

11th - 12th September Rescheduled SCFHG club competition at Mendlesham with campover on site.

1st December SCFHG Club trip to Lanzarote.

4th December Telford hang gliding / paragliding / microlight show.

18th December Christmas Dinner Dance at "Seckford Hall", cost £25 per head, once again arranged by Christine Dawson. Overnight rooms for those wishing to stay £39.50 per person. Infamous for Neil Hammerton buying copious amounts of Champagne, stripping on the dance floor with Rob Fox who gave Phil Chettleburgh a kiss with tongues! Cracking evening hosted, helped along apart from the booze by a great venue and dj.

2000

January Winch rebuilt by Pete Bowden and will now accept unleaded petrol. Princess winch needs to be run on LRP.

8th January Mandy (club weather station) finally installed by Richard Hunt.

23rd February SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

March Graham Drinkall donates 2CV for club use. Doesn't get used much but good fun to play around in! Rob Fox trying to organise a team for the British Clubs Challenge (replaced the old Airwave one) planned for 6th/7th May.

19th March SCFHG Club first aid course at Leiston.

20th March Mick Goad dislocates his shoulder on landing after recently changing to a new pair of spectacles.

April Mandy fully operational.

29th April SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

8th - 15th April SCFHG Club trip to Chamonix, arranged by Glenn Read.

26th April SCFHGC AGM at "Brewery Tap". Plan to take Princess and leave at Metfield once brake cable fixed.

May Tow fees at £1.25; with £30 getting £35 worth and £50 getting £60 of tows. Mandy fixed again.

31st May SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

June Dave Whymark obtains another set of rollers for the winch which has been suffering from line breaks due to swages catching in the rollers. Princess still being repaired. Club has use of a trolley from Paul Leary, needed by Paul Barton as has gammy leg. Mandy fixed, again.

24th June Airmiss at Bawdsey between Pete Bowden and a light aircraft.

28th June SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

1st - 2nd July All Out! at Wroughton airfield.

July-August Dave McEwan, Tracey McEwan, kids and Phil Chettleburgh do France.

August SCFHG Club trip to Piedrahita by many people, meeting up with the microlight flight below.

1st - 12th August Neil Hammerton and Sue Hubbard 'follow migratory path of birds' to Piedrahita in a microlight with parents as support crew. Raised £2000 for the blind.

11th - 12th August Aerotowing weekend (arranged by Ed Potter) at Sutton Meadows and club is invited, but need to be aerotow rated so don't think anyone went.

August Bank Holiday Blorenge bash attended by several club members and the 'Unstable Hang Gliding Club' :-). Graham Bartlett thrown off Rhosilli and learns to top land when the tide is in, he can't get down to the bottom, and a storm is coming in! Violin and guitar playing also occured.

August Bank Holiday also saw the Ed Bowman Trophy competition at Fransham but not sure anyone from Suffolk went?

30th August SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

September Lejair looking to relocate to Spain. Still have 400cc bike as well as 185cc Suzuki. Smartgroups is set up to use the internet for club communications (email alias, website) and worked well for years until its demise in 2006 when was replaced by the Forums.

2nd - 3rd September Was to be date for another Banham but ...

27th September SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

29th September Paul Barton dies on landing at Chamonix.

25th October SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

29th November SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

2nd December Christmas Dinner Dance at "Fynn Valley" Golf Club, Ipswich. Cost £25 per person.

2001

15th January Paul Smith experimenting with logging the tow tension on the winches using laptop and strain gauge.

Mid-January Farmer sues Richard Hunt insurance for £70,000, four years after landing in his field of cows.

31st January SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewey Tap".

February Club winch looked at by Paul Smith and Tony Dawson and improved but still not great. Strongly suggesting should get a new (not second-hand) winch! Definite winch troubles around this time and looking around to maybe loan one in short term, or get loan off club members towards a new winch.

28th February SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewey Tap.

March Foot and Mouth disease closes most hang gliding sites across the UK, including Mendlesham,

3rd March Big Fat Repack (number 5) attended by several from the club. Busy as foot and mouth stopping flying.

15th March Potential offer from North Norfolk of long term loan of their (old Koch) winch.

May Hill Farm re-opens for flying on provision nobody flies cross country and land back in same field.

5th May Mendlesham re-opens for flying, on condition landing back in same field and nobody goes XC. All vehicles also to be disinfected.

12th May Mick Goad attempts first flight since dislocating shoulder 15 months ago but comes a cropper again before gets off ground. Breaks bone in neck.

30th May SCFHGC AGM at "Brewery Tap".

30th June Mick Goad retires from hang gliding but continues to be active in the club and takes up flying the Shadow.

14th July Hangar at Mendlesham temporarily cleared for Young Farmers ball.

25th May SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

25th July SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

29th July Ipswich Evening Star reporter taken up in Glenn Reads Shadow for some aerial photos and an article us.

July-August Dave McEwan, Tracey McEwan, kids and Phil Chettleburgh do France again.

Summer Some trip to southern Spain featuring Neil Hammerton and Rob Fox.

August Email debate as to whether to have a caravan on site as a club house and loo.

27th August A long overdue trip to Metfield .

29th August SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

26th September SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

28th September Paramotor spotted flying up and down runway at Mendlesham which may or may not have been the one local resident with permission to do this.

October Rob Fox looking to put together some club history for a special edition of Release! or similar.

13th - 14th October Four paramotor pilots set up and operate at west end of Mendlesham, looking to set up a school. One is a friend of Sandy (farm owner) who has given them permission to operate at the field.

28th October Committee meeting held at the "Brewery Tap" to discuss a plan put forward by Russell Holden to address the following problems in addition to a response to the paramotor group's activities:

1. Too few members
2. Poor quality equipment
3. Poor lease
4. Poor runway directions
5. The club has no direction
6. Too few competitions
7. Poor communication
8. Poor organisation
9. Poor public relations
10. Poor training
11. Poor social activities

Club meetings not working, so will be moved to Magpie after flying. Amongst other resoponses were the suggestion that new members needed on committee as 'new blood. and some better system to work out whether flying on or not. Need more on social side but this year's Christmas bash undersubscribed - member apathy. Also need new winch.

31st October SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

November 50% of members now download Release! from Smartgroups rather than getting by post.

26th November Glenn Read enquires with Sandy as to a N-S runway. Paramotor saga resolved; school didn't realise how sensitive site was and turns out only had permission for ground handling.

28th November SCFHG Club meeting at "Brewery Tap".

13th December Farmer backs out of suing Richard Hunt claiming "ill health".

15th December SCFHG Club Christmas Bash.

2002

Like 2001, a few people individually headed over to Wallaby Ranch this year.

12th - 13th January Neil Hammerton and Rob Fox drive to Chamonix for the weekend again. Get stopped by customs on early hours Monday morning, main problem being they don't believe they popped to Chamonix for the weekend.

February SCFHG Club night moves to the first Sunday of the month in the Magpie from about 7.30pm, then first Saturday when that doesn't work.

February Permanent exclusion zone established around Sizewell power station.

5th February Meeting with Suffolk Coastal District Council and Pete Bowden and Mick Goad.

1st March Receive brand new Koch winch on loan from North Norfolk Hang Gliding Club, who are no longer operating.

17th March Flying at Metfield for a change, Terry Gobbold agrees to have winch live in a shed on his farm.

April SCFHG Club trip to Chamonix organised by Glenn Read.

7th April Richard Hunt lands in sea and survives at Mundesley.

11th May SCFHGC AGM at 7pm in the Magpie, not first Saturday of month (as club meetings are from now on) but arranged so as to avoid the British Open. Attended by 8 members. Honda motorbike not running but currently have the 2CV and also Russell Holderns's lad's quad bike to pull out lines so decided not to spend any money on new kit yet. Total assets £4800.

July Rob Fox bumming around in France (Laragne).

August Kate Diamond bums around in the US.

August All Out! near ...

September Jim Moffatt first person in the club to play with a GPS.

21st-22nd September Replacement Banham Zoo style competition at Tibenham gliding club, Norfolk.

7th December Christmas Bash at the "County Hotel", Copdock at £24.95 a head. Organised as usual by Tony Dawson and Christine Dawson.

2003

The club finished 8th in the NXCL club league.

28th March North Norfolk's old Koch winch loaned to Norfolk.

10th May Club AGM, 7pm at