Rougham Air Show, 2011.
On Saturday and Sunday 13th. and 14th. August Margaret and I manned the Association’s stand at Rougham Airfield, in Suffolk. We had erected the gazebo on the Friday evening when the weather had been dry, but on the following day we awoke to overcast skies and a forecast promising showers. By nine o’clock we had laid out our display material and were ready to greet the punters when the rain started. For the next three hours it varied between fine drizzle and heavy showers, subsequently not many people turned up. By mid-day the weather had improved and I was invited to speak to the masses (?), over the public address system, to promote the RAF Changi Association. From then on the weather improved and more people arrived, resulting in the two of us being kept quite busy answering the enquiries from visitors to our stand, until the flying display started about two o’clock. Luckily we had been allocated a site next to the flight lines, so we still got a few more visitors, and were able to watch the aircraft in flight which was quite impressive and enjoyable, as we saw bi-planes and tri-planes from the First World War, a variety of Second world War planes, an autogyro and a pair of Folland Gnats.
Sunday was a different day entirely, the sun came out, the temperature climbed and the crowds poured in, by mid-day the place was heaving and we were kept very busy. The flying display was basically the same as for the previous day, but in addition there was a display of vintage and classic cars and motorcycles in considerable numbers, along with old commercial and military vehicles, in fact something of interest for most of those present. A great day all-around.
On reflection the week end had been a success, we had received a few membership enquiries which were passed on for Malcolm Flack to follow up. Much interest had been generated by the small number of archive albums that were available for viewing, and as usual the troopship panel always brings in people from other than the RAF, from people that remember travelling on troopships and ex-seamen who worked on them. The size of the program at this air show makes the entrance fee, of £20.00 per person, quite acceptable in comparison with similar events, and they do have price concessions for children and us “old scroats”. I am looking forward to retuning for the 2012 Rougham Air Show.
-John Dicks.
Shoreham Air Show, 2011.
Shoreham Air Show for the second time in two years fell on the week-end immediately following Rougham Air Show, which does cause a few problems, especially as it always seems to basically be the same people being involved
This year we opted to keep to the same format as for previous years, so Terry Barnes and I erected our gazebo, on our usual site, on the Friday evening which generally simplifies things the next morning. Due to circumstances beyond our control we only had skeleton staff on duty for both days this year, a situation that we take definite steps to redress in time for next year.
According to the forecast, for both Saturday and Sunday, we could expect fine weather with occasional showers, which never really materialised, so the crowds gradually built up, and there was plenty for them to see on the many stands of other organisations, and looking at the many aircraft parked on the flight lines. Terry and I soon found ourselves answering queries, collecting membership enquiries and meeting up with friend that we had made on previous years. Lunch time was a bit of a problem, as there was only the two of us manning our stand, so I left Terry to it, on his own, while I had a look around on my way to the refreshment area before returning with our Shoreham diet of Cornish pasties and a pint of Spitfire ale each.
Shoreham Air Show is one of the best shows around with a vast array of flying entertainment, from World War One planes to present day jets and helicopters, the flying is continuous for about four to five hour, marred this year only by the news that one of the Red Arrows had crashed at Bournemouth Air Show, so we would not be seeing them this time.
Sunday we handed over to team “B”, comprising Anne Moore and Malcolm Flack, who apparently had an even busier day than we had, with more membership enquiries to be pursued, culminating with a visit from Winnie and Peter Mersh, members who live in Tonbridge Wells, who provided some much appreciated assistance.
Once again Shoreham, I can honestly say. have come up trumps with a another first class show. One that we all enjoy attending, as we have done over the past six or seven years. If only it did not occur so close to Rougham’s event it would be perfect, still unlike the television companies we cannot dictate when these things should happen. Roll on next year.
-John Dicks.