A Brief club history
During the mid 1970’s radio control flying was still quite new to most modellers, and those who did fly, flew i.c. power. There were a few who flew gliders from slopes, but very few launching from a flat field.
At this time, Hogg Hill in Hainault Forest had became a popular site for soaring, and it was not long before the authorities in the park were looking at the need to have some sort of control. Frequency control was the only need of the fliers, but it was recognised that organised representation would be an advantage, and from this, Fairlop Model Flying Club was formed by a collection of individual fliers.
News of the club’s formation must have spread rapidly, because at the end of the first full year of existence, membership stood at 56. A committee had been elected and a set of club rules (constitution) drawn up. Local Council permission was also obtained to give the club exclusive model flying use of an area of reclaimed land situated between Barkingside and Fairlop stations. This land was all that remained of the historic area Fairlop Plain, where many pioneering model flights were first made.
From the very earliest day’s, competition flying was a central part of the club’s activities. Club competitions were organised for bungy launched flight, and an annual ‘Best Model’ trophy. The first comp. run to what was then the ‘new’ BARCS percentage slot rules was run in July ’78. In 1980, Ray Gadenne was elected the club’s first competition secretary.
The early 80’s was a very active time for r/c thermal soaring. The35mhz wave band was allocated to model flying, and with this came more reliable equipment.
In 1981, 5 club comps were held, some of which were used to decide on an official Fairlop team to enter the ‘Heart of England’ team comp. in Swindon. We came 11th. out of 14.
Membership at this time stood at 60 of which 17 were members of BARCS. Current club members Ray Gadenne, Graham Wicks, Fred Skinmore, Eric Cooper and Peter Mitchell either joined this same year or were already members.
The following year saw membership up to 79, and more club, inter club and BARCS league competitions. However a hammer blow was delivered by the council, when it was announced that our flying site was to become what is now ‘Fairlop Waters’ golf course. The club was very fortunate to be offered the use of Forest Road Playing Field as a replacement, but many members were unhappy at this turn of events and from then on membership gradually declined.
Club activities continued, and new rules were drawn up to cover use of the new field. At the same time, a revised more detailed set of club rules was also drawn up. It was decided at this time to try to find a more permanent flying field, one which we could rent. To cover the anticipated cost involved, it was decided to raise a cash fund. A series of social events were held during the following years, and all profit from comps. both entry fee’s and catering sales, went into the pot.
By the end of the 80’s and into the early 90’s membership was down to 48. Involvement in competitions and other club activities was however, higher than ever. Despite many good individual results, it would be fair to say that when ‘Fairlop’ entered a comp. it was as much for the social side of things as anything else. It was usual for the club to have up to 20 or so members entered at long weekend comps. such as Radioglide or the BMFA Nationals and at many of the more local BARCS league events, up to 12 were not unusual. The long weekends were perfect for family involvement with camping on the flying site and barbecues in the evenings.
The clubs own annual BARCS league event was a regularly well attended competition. Despite the organisational problems always encountered when using public property, Fairlop’s comp. became known as one of the best, if not the best, event on the calendar, and entries of 70 were not uncommon.
In 1992 the club was asked to run BARCS Interglide. an early F3J international. This was a great success, and attracted entries from many countries. By this time club membership had dropped further to 38, but at least 50% of them were involved one way or another in organising or running the comp. But the bulk of the preparatory work,on which success depended, was carried out by the then chairman Les Sparkes .
In addition to the summer league competition scene, for virtually all of the clubs existence, members have been strong supporters of BARCS Winter League Postal competitions. During the 90’s ‘Fairlop’ won the league club cup 3 times, and were twice beaten into second place by very narrow margins.
The second half of the 90’s saw the gradual loss of a number of long standing members. Increased Public use on Forest Road Playing Field by footballers, dog walkers etc. stopped almost all organised flying, and whilst competition flying continued, but with fewer members, general club activities virtually came to a halt. The committee had remained unchanged for many years, and during this period, there was very little involvement from the membership.
At the end of ’98 membership stood at 34, but of these few, several were new to the club. Also at the end of the year, we at last found a site we could almost call our own. An agreement was reached with the farmer at Little Tawney Hall Farm, Stapleford Tawney, and from early 1999, the club had its first private rented flying site.
During all of this time, in fact for virtually all of the clubs existence, members have been kept informed by a newsletter. It was not always a regular event, but usually averaged 2 or 3 editions each year. There were a few editors over the years at different times, but the mainstay in this difficult job for at least 20 of those years was Keith Riches.
Keith was never interested in the competition side of things, but an excellent model maker and one of those real ‘sports’ fliers. He is no longer a member of the club, but still in touch with us, and the clubs continued existence owes a lot to his efforts.
Competition flying continues to be the heart of the club, and members are now regularly in the top ranking of all the various National leagues and disciplines they compete in.
Affiliated to the BMFA
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