Primrose Valley 2003

The week started with what has become the customary informal get together on the Saturday night.  This year, due to unfortunate circumstances at Primrose Valley, we did not have the use of our usual meeting place.  Instead we were given the use of the old 365 bar, which actually made for a more intimate atmosphere.  There was a number of old faces missing this year but, I am glad to say, there were lots of new faces that had become friends by the end of the week.

The same as last year Sunday dawned and Mother Nature had not been very kind to us it was raining with a westerly wind!  Despite the weather, the attendance of the pilots’ morning briefing was good.  MAA Chairman, Max Bradley, welcomed everybody, PRO, Caroline Scoles, explained what was in store for the week's events and each CFI gave a briefing on their discipline.  A Force aeroplane motor was kindly donated by David Boddington.  When Members paid for there power flying passes, they where given a free raffle ticket.  At the end of the week the raffle was drawn and Tony Walsh was the lucky winner.

The weather remained unsettled, but every day most of the people were able to fly at some point.  The glider flyers were out from virtually dawn to dusk every day.  There was even a brief appearance on the slopes by some of the power flyers!  By the end of the week, everyone had been lucky enough to get some great flying in.  Once again, this year we were privileged to have Alan Head from SAS models spending all week with us.  For a change, to the evening’s entertainment, this year the usual activities were dispensed with.  Instead a darts league with a difference was run and the darts were foam gliders with a pin on the nose.  Twenty competitors took part over 8 legs and the eventual winner was Dave Scoles.  On the Friday evening we had the traditional raffle draw and prize giving ceremony.  Again, in a break from the norm, everybody contributed to a buffet supper.  This was accompanied by live music from Max and his band, “The Little Band”.  Max kindly presented the Trophies, and most  improved flyer trophy was awarded to Liam Beard and the John Rudd Memorial Trophy was awarded to Michael Terry.  Everyone said their goodbyes with promises to see them either at Devon or next year.  This could be the last year that the Devon holiday is run, the problems being due to a drop in numbers, Haven holidays and The Committee.

Holiday report Primrose Valley 2003.