Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer

I started taking a positive interest in aircraft at Southend airport in 1965, attracted by ATL98 Carvairs, Bristol 170 Freighters and Douglas DC3s – all a much better view out of the geography lab window than concentrating on my school work! I have visited airports in the UK, Europe, USA, Mexico, Canada, Japan, & South Africa. The best overseas airports visited – well, amongst these has to be Miami in the good old propliner days, Detroit–Willow Run for the same reason, plus the now closed Hong Kong-Kai Tak….the sight of those 747s and heavies banking round in the last few minutes in order to land had to be seen to be believed! (Slides for these airports yet to be scanned!)

I was told by my parents that my first flight was a joy flight around Blackpool Tower in the ‘50s. I wonder what type of aircraft I flew in! Aside from Viscount and Herald passenger flights from Southend between 1967 and 1980, and plenty of jet airliners since, I have enjoyed memorable flights in a Dragon Rapide from Land’s End around the lighthouse in the 1977 (G-AIYR), the same type again in 2008 (G-AKIF) from Duxford to around the Tower of London & London sights, and in 2002 a Tiger Moth from Redhill (G-AKUE).

I have been a director of Air-Britain, the Association of Aviation Historians & Enthusiasts, since the late 1970s and today continue to be the Associations’ membership secretary.