Summer 2001
From the Secretary
Our late Summer meeting is almost upon us. The original intention was to stay in Bristol. However our chosen weekend coincides with the last coach tour weekend of the season and no hotel in the city could accommodate us and provide dinner. We are therefore going to Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel which is by junction 14 of the M5 within easy reach of the city centre. It is also within easy reach of Kemble airfield where landings cost £5.00 (paid by the Association) as does overnight parking. Remember also that children of 13 and under come as guests of the Association.The hotel, opened in June 2001, is a Grade 2 listed Victorian mansion standing on the dramatic escarpment of the Cotswold Edge. It has been renovated at a cost of two million pounds and set in thirty acres of parkland.
Bristol is a major tourist centre and full of attractions. It was very successful as a port, particularly involved in the slave trade and so we have chosen to go to the waterfront and the water itself on Saturday. There will be a tour of the SS Great Britain with time to mooch around it and its surrounds followed by lunch on board a river ferry (or possibly two) which will take us on a tour of the harbour. For those who wish to 'do their own thing' the open topped tour buses are highly recommended. The whole circuit takes about an hour and you can get on and off - just like London, New York, Sydney, Auckland and countless other cities.
The AGM will be on Saturday evening. If you have anything that you would like to put on the Agenda please let the secretary know by Friday 17th August.
Our annual gala dinner will as usual be preceded by sampling of the evening's wines. This has always been a formal occasion and dinner jackets remain the preferred dress.
On Sunday we go to Kemble airfield which has recently been sold by the MoD to private owners. It is home to the Bristol Aero Collection, Delta jets and thriving aeroplane and microlight clubs. The British Microlight Association are holding their national championships there during our weekend. The Bristol Aero Collection covers Bristol engineering since the company arose from the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company in 1910 as the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company - from Boxkite to Concorde via a vast number of successful and less successful intermediary aircraft, buses, cars and missiles. Delta Jets own, fly, maintain and restore Hunters and will give us a tour of their facility. The flying clubs have all sorts of aircraft including a selection of Jabirus and Europas and their hangar will be open for any of our members to visit. Those who have flown in may wish to leave directly rather than returning with the main party to lunch at the hotel.
Those not wishing to go to Kemble might prefer a visit to Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre or Tintern Abbey, both a short drive away by shared cars. Please talk to Sara Clymo if you would like to arrange such a trip.
You can view the photos from the 2001 Summer Meeting at Shenington by going to the photo album on the website.
Andrew Clymo