VGC News/Newsletters - Lakes Gliding Club

large enough for him. His start was in scratchy lift but he was
later able to often work it up to 4,800 ft and breaking the
British distance record. In 1935 he visited the Hornberg for a
course with Wolf Hirth. He broke the local height record and
was allowed to fly Hirth's famous Musterle. On his return to
Britain he was killed attempting a forward loop (bunt) in a
Grunau Baby 2 as a special attraction at Sir Alan Cobham's
Air Circus. At that time it was not known that forward loops
should not be attempted except in very special aerobatic
gliders. He always had to be the best and could get angry if
other pilots did better than him. He would not have been able
to remain at the top for ever but perhaps gliding gave him the
only happy time in his life. His father was an instrument
maker and it was known that there was a Collins variometer in
the Rhonadler in 1938 and this was probably the third variometer
ever built in Britain.
Also during 1934 the National Contest was held at Sutton
Bank. During the Contest, as seen in the film "Plane Sailing",
Daniel MacClement spun in in the Willow Wren on to the
slope. One of the glider's owners was Kit Nicholson (who
later designed the London Club's Clubhouse and became
British gliding champion in 1938 and 1939) who, witJIl his
partner, then bought the Scud 2 that Mike Beach has now.
During the contest on September 4th the fantastic height
record of7,970 ft was flown in a Scud 2 by Mungo Buxton in
a CuNim. Jack Dewsbury landed the Blue Wren at the coast
after having been over the sea. Collins flew longer in his
Rhonacller so it had been a day to remember.
The Great Struggle. From late 1933 there had been a
quarrel between the Clubs and the BOA on the grounds of the
latter's extravagance and incompetence. Philip WiHs investigated
the situation and soon discovered which side he was on.
"One cannot fell the truth about these people as ilt would be
libellous" he once said. The offer of a government subsidy ol1ly
prolonged the quarrel as the others wanted to get their hands on
it. He found that the BGA Coundl only had 8 Club members
but 22 others! First one Club or person and then another had
been irritated and then infuriated by the incompetence of the
BGA. Philip Wills's tiesignation had been in the hands of the
President for some time but Eric GOI'don England, who had
been Chairman for three years could scarcely believe what he
was hearing. A meeting voted unanimously not to re-affiliate to
the BGA until it had changed its constitution to properly represent
the gliding clubs. Simultaneously, Philip Wills was putting
in an immense effort to establish a National Gliding Centre at
Sulton Bank to be run by the Yorkshire and neighbouring
Clubs. He felt that the DlIns'table sl'ope of under 250 ft was not
adequate to easily contact ,thermals and get away onto CI"OSS
country flights. The slope at Sutton Bank was 600 n high, it
figure already accepted in Germany as adequate for a take-off
to c1oudland. He arranged a loan, but the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
who ownedltl1e land, were against Sunday flying.
However, they were persuaded to change their minds but
insisted on a ban on 6ying om Good Fridays. On his instigation
a wealthy resident, Major Shaw, not only helped the scheme
but enabled Slingsby to create his factory al Kirkbym,oorside
by investing the necessary capital. If these activ,ities were not
enough, 1934 \vas also the yeUl' of the hrs't Brit'ish Silver C
badges. It was a race between Wills and Col'lins. WiUs, after 11
56 mile record flight in March needed only the duration leg;
whereas Colllns needed the distance. So it was a meteorological
race between a good thermal day and a good West wind
day. The thermals won and Collins gained the first Silver C
with the International number 26 (just after that of Hanna
Reitsch). Philip's West wind later obliged and his Silver Cs
International number was 45.
The above has been written with much adherence being
given to Ann Welchs "The Story ofGliding" and Dr Slaters
magnificent "Sailplane alld Glider" magazines.
To be continued in the next issue, with the new BGA now
reflecting the wishes of the Clubs.
The famous Kassel Herkules ofCol/in s records. Mrs Slingsby is in the front cockpit in this picture taken in the ballroom ofa
hotel in Scarborough where the Herkules had just been 'christened'. Photo VG. Rhodes.
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