Amarc2002

So, looking back over the last year, how was it for you?.  It's been a funny old year, supposedly hotter than many years, yet wetter than usual. 

Moving back to last years Auction, it was the best ever with over £700 changing hands.  Ron and Jason did the honours and it was just great,with loads of gear available. After the new year, the usual trophy's were presented and we all awaited the start of some reasonable flying weather.  Another significant event passed when at long last the long awaited Hengrove development really got under way.  Usual Hengrove fliers thought it would be difficult to fly at our only Bristol location, but having the security fence moved out so far has now given us a patch to fly and members seem happy to fly there.  I think there is a resignation that Hengrove Park, our home since AMARC was founded some 37plus years ago, is finally going to disappear in the next few years.  Many ask the question " will the club ever be the same"?.  The question is not easily answered, the club is evolving all the time and now it has the focal point of the Gordano site.  Many new members have joined the club during the last year and it is refreshing that they,the new members, together with the usual existing members, volunteer services to keep the site tidy and in good flying shape.

 So winter gave way to Spring and believe it or not, the weather played ball.  We managed to improve the site no end by removing the notorious Willow tree.  Maurice spent a great deal of time at the site using his digger and dumper truck.  He, with the help of other club members,improved the access, levelling the Drove approach road, cut new pathways around the site, and was instrumental in the siting of the new secure storage.  Having lost our old caravan, a new secure container was purchased to store equipment.  It now has storage shelf's and a work bench for members to repair the odd model.  During those early months and the Spring, the weather was just brilliant and we could have been forgiven thinking it would last all Summer.

  As Summer approached, the high hopes of a bumper Summer  were dashed.  As the longest day approached, the weather went into reverse,so Summer was a real non event.  Some days were not too bad, but the amount of rain that fell really killed enjoyable flying.  Having said that, our open weekend was bathed in good weather.  An extra ordinary number of members turned out over the Two day event and probably the high point of the weekend was the first Jet take off and flight at Gordano.  Those there will recall it was a more than hairy take off for Cliff Evans with his Elan jet.  After a very long run up and fast approaching the end of the flight line and the Ream, he managed to haul the plane clear of the ground.  The flight was memorable and the landing by Bob Blackmore was a triumph of flying.  He managed to put it down on the strip with very little spare runway left.  The weekend was well supported by members of the Gordano community and we managed to raise a fair amount of funds for the club.  Many thanks were due to Teresa, Ron Biggs wife.  As usual she worked tirelessly making teas,cream teas, hot dogs and burgers and all this after recovering from severe illness.  Summer moved on and the club experienced a rush intake new members and that is very rewarding.  For the likes of Chris, it ment an increase in the amount of training time for new members.  I think Ken Coombs also passed  quite a few new members through the A test. 

 Autumn approached and the nights began to pull in, the weather eventually began to play ball and we experienced a bit of an Indian Summer.  With flying possible Seven days a week, members made up for lost time.  AN on site auction of a late members flying equipment raised  money for his widow.  After the August meeting, indoor monthly meetings restarted.  Our long standing Mayors Arms pub was no more, so an alternative venue at Portishead was secured.  In November it hosted the 2009 Auction and as usual it was well supported, but this year there was a move away from engines and equipment.  More actual models seemed to be sold. 

We have moved through the last Twelve months without too much upset. Our reasonable relations with our nearest neighbour have remained intact.  The Council have only asked us to camouflage paint the caravan.  The one remaining problem might be the routing of the proposed national Grid Pylons.  They may or may not run near our site. Time will tell. Lastly, One model lost at Gordano is still defying the odds and remains lost.  Perhaps it is some where in the brambles, but word has it that Chris's lost model is at the bottom of the Rhyne, I wonder. 

It only remains for me to wish all club members and readers of this site a Happy Christmas and SAFE FLYING in 2010
ps renew before the end of Feb 2010 and get your £5 discount.