COMBAT AND COMPETITION.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
OLD WAR HORSES
Gliding was in a state of change too. A major development in sailplane
design and construction was under way in Germany. Its origins lay
within the Akafliegs, or Academic Flying Groups, at the Technical
Universities. Research prototypes were being built and more than one
German glider manufacturer was already involved.
At home, the requirements of Air Traffic Control - as perceived
by the Ministry of Aviation - were beginning to have a serious effect
on our freedom of operation And, as if this were not enough, the
British Gliding Association was involved in a major reappraisal of its
function and structure.
The latter had arisen for a variety reasons. The number of gliding
clubs was expanding rapidly and the BGA Council was in danger of
becoming over large and unwieldy. Philip Wills, John Furlong, Basil
Meads and Ann Welch, who were the real power base had been there
for a long time. Ann had stood down as Vice Chairman immediately
after the 1965 World Championships and for Philip the time was
approaching when he too would wish to hand over the reins. Before
that, with his usual far sightedness, he had set in motion the first steps
towards reorganisation. A study group, headed by David Carrow the
new Vice Chairman - which in Philip's own words:
".....is representative of the post war generation and..... as wide a
geographical basis as is practicable....."
These were the realities. But the setting, the swinging sixties, was
fast developing into a decade of changing values, in which the virtues
of free expression and open government would be encouraged as never
before. For the autocrat it was hardly a happy time - and the inner
caucus of the BGA had been an autocracy for many years.
It is perhaps worth recounting a personal experience which reflects
the problems of that era. The details are immaterial and, as an
interested party, it would be inappropriate to mention them.
Sufficient to say that the World Championships Master Committee
reported one final seeded order to Council for the 1960 British Team
in the autumn of 1959 - and a different one early the following year.
No explanation was offered and nobody round the Council table
questioned the changes. At least not in public. I happen to remember
it vividly, because I was present on both occasions, and the second one
cost me my place in the team!
At the time it was frightful slap in the face - and Horace
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