Newsletter December 2003:-    

Derek Fox Haviour 22nd December 2003

Dear Member, I am rather late with the Christmas newsletter this year due to circumstances I have probably made for myself, however, the year has I believe been a good one, the arrangement to use Clifton on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and Stainland the other days seems to have worked OK. There are of course, some members who do not seem happy with Stainland but; it is an excellent site and worthy of more use than it seems to get. But, I have not been there that much myself and perhaps there is a nucleus of members who go there. Certainly I have heard that there are some aero modellers not yet members of Brighouse who have flown at Stainland in the past and are considering joining our progressive club.

A very important point is, The Treasurer and I have some E-mail addresses but have a feeling we have not got everyone who has this facility. If you have could you send an Email to us at www:bvmac.co.uk this would save both money but more importantly my time as I can send 50 newsletters in a flash without all the folding, putting in envelopes and going to the post office this as you can see would make such a difference to the Sec and Treasurers workload. Also with this is a form to return with your Subs for the coming year, if you could fill it in it helps Paul who acts as Membership Sec to the BMFA.

Tockwith. The attendance at these events has never really recovered from the two periods when we were banned from using it after the two accidents, it does have its restrictions; the need to fly to the south means the sun is in pilots eyes when the sky is cloudless, then there was the problem of the motorcycle training business (which seems to have moved) also of course Simon has extended his motor sport operations and it makes it awkward getting in and out after 10am. He got very upset when some of us started using the farmers track exit at the East end of the runway, this was a pity, as it seemed to me to be an easy answer to the dilemma. I wish we could get a portion of tarmac we could have a more exclusive use of as we all are aware that in the early days of Tockwith ( ante Simon) it was very well supported. I am sure the financial side could be covered one way or another. We have on occasions asked about the runway extension on the other side of the road but cannot seem to get very far. Also Church Fenton seems to get more elusive and anyway is more or less commandeered by the free lighters. In view of the poor attendance I believe the charge for flying has been reduced, this is OK as long as we get the use of the runway gratis, we did pay a sweetener to get back on and this has been covered so flying can be cheaper, but modellers do not seem to want to pay much, a lot are also content with flying from grass at our local fields. The airfield has been booked for the first Sunday in the month plus two extra Sundays for special events May 18^th and Aug 17^th

Workshop. It was suggested last year that we run a course on scratch building model aircraft, is there any interest? If you are thinking you would like to participate drop me a line or Email. There would have to be a small charge to cover the hire of the hall, and materials would be available at cost, the proposed venue would be the hall at St Thomas’ Claremount, Halifax, mainly because I can get it at a reasonable charge and I am a key holder. Would the preferred time, if we go ahead, be afternoon or evening? It needs about 15 persons to make it viable. I know Ralph Darnbrough would be an instructor, we are lucky to have one or two good scratch builders among our members who no doubt would volunteer to help.

Stainland. It has been thought that if we could obtain the use of this facility on a couple of Sundays, Phil could organise two Scale Competitions, we are sure it is suitable even for the planes with retracts if the grass is cut short in the takeoff area, but this is dependant on the council giving permission.

Meetings. The January meeting on Thurs the 15^th is, I hope, a quiz organised by Dave Tappin, February 19^th a talk by Gordon Warburton on the BMFA including the Achievement Scheme.  March 18 ^th Early Days of  Aero modelling by Derek Haviour. April 15^th Control Line Flying by  Mike Fitzgerald UK Team Member Team Racing. May 20^th Free flight Rubber Powered Models by John Godden. June 17^th Concours Elegance if possible at Northowram Club or Northowram Community Centre.  This program takes us halfway through the year when a newsletter will fill in the rest. Please make a note in your diaries. I am always looking for suggestions for our monthly meetings, if you have any ideas please put them forward.

Secretary As no doubt you are aware I would like to relinquish the secretary’s job, as I feel some younger person could give it more time. I am on a three-year course for Local Minister or Licensed Reader of the Anglican Church to which I have felt called even at my late stage of life, and this is taking up a lot of my free time. Any volunteer would be welcome.

Members past and present. Past founder member Mr George Harrison is still housebound and would welcome anyone wishing to visit him at Rastrick, Our past Vice Chairman and founder member Mr Albert Hargreaves is back in hospital and not in very good health, I understand that Fred Hall is feeling a lot better as also is Trevor Maude, I am sure you will join me in wishing them a speedy return to full health, and anyone I have left off this list who is feeling a bit under the weather.

Finally, I wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Good New Year and let us all hope that 2004 sees some return to a more moral, law abiding and caring society, when I have looked about me this festive season and seen the unabashed consumerism and dare I say greed from people who have hijacked an important Christian Festival and turned it into a moneymaking circus I am afraid that the example it shows to the up and coming generations is not a good one. My prayers are with you all.