50th Anniversary Tour

Touching the far corners of the Kingdom, an RAF station in Anglesey, country houses in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England, and running conveniently off-piste at the old haunt of Le Touquet, the trip recapitulated many of the happiest memories of the Air Squadron.
On Sunday, members gathered under blue skies for the start of the Round Britain trip. Lunch had been organised in Vic Norman’s Pancho Barn. We were treated to a flypast by Matt Jones in the Spitfire followed by a practise aerobatic demonstration by Simon Johnson. After staying the night at the homes of Greville Vernon and Gil Greenall, the first stop was Castletown, home to George and Wendy Magan, who welcomed the Squadron back to their beautiful house in Southern Ireland. Whilst sipping champagne in the wonderful gardens members were treated to an impromptu flypast (or more accurately zoom past) by Gerry Humphreys. This was followed by the balletic performance of Ralph in his Tiger Moth, which culminated in a flight through the top of the fountain in front of the assembled guests!

Tuesday dawned bright and members came back across the Irish Sea to visit RAF Valley and cement our relationship over the last 50 years with the presentation of a Coreth swift. It was then onward to beautiful Nantclywd nestling in the Welsh valleys and home to the Naylor-Leylands. Over a glass of champagne we watched Patrick de Rousiers negotiate the valley, trees and chimney pots in his FK12 before dinner at Ruthin Castle.
On Wednesday, after an early departure from Nantclywd we headed o north to Scotland. Three days of heavenly Scottish weather then enabled fine flying up the picturesque valleys and lochs. First to a memorable lunch with the Howards on Colonsay, and onwards to Glendoe on Loch Ness where everyone descended on the Vernons for dinner. The next morning a tour of the local hydro-electric plant and dam had been organised whilst a few intrepid pilots made their way to Barra. On Friday, we flew down to Bute and lunch in the incredible Mount Stuart House and a fascinating lecture on the treasures in the house.

Afterwards, we departed for Kilkerran, home of Adam and Jenny Fergusson, for a curry dinner. Saturday saw us depart for Harewood house and en route members were reintroduced briefly to low cloud and mist. A BBQ prepared by the in- house team awaited us – and after a tour of the house and gardens (once more under blue skies), we departed to spend the night in the depths of Leeds! Sunday dawned and we set off for lunch with Stephen Partridge-Hicks at his beautiful old home in Suffolk. All too quickly it was onwards to Holkham and a tour of yet another spectacular house and gardens. Members were spread between several airfields and Olaf Brun and Henry Labouchere (in the prototype OX) provided transport from Massingham to get us all to the hotels.

On Monday, we flew across the Channel and landed in Le Touquet. Philippe Cotrel had organised a band and a welcome from the local beauty pageant and we were treated to a flypast by Maxi Gainza in his Spitfire before lunch at L’Escale. After a little relaxation and a day of no flying, the trip culminated in a reception given by the Mayor at the Town Hall followed by dinner at the Westminster Hotel. We were treated to a wonderful Coreth cabaret after dinner and no one present will forget the sight of grown men shooting each other, and the occasional glider, over dinner with foam bullets. Boys will always be boys!