There has certainly been plenty of trading during February. At least three envelopes have sold – G-UTRA, G-CIIX and G-JEMZ with another under offer at present. The demand for smaller items, especially modern quick releases, V-bridles and manifolds continues, driven by the high prices of buying new. Stuart Seager has sold the last of his major items – a trailer and 8hp fan, whilst Chris Dunkley quickly sold a double burner which appeared on Stop Press during the month.
New for March are a 105 basket and another 8hp fan from Chris Dunkley as part of his ‘big time’ clear out. We have precis’d his write ups for the paper version of the List but kept his typically flowery “Wendover-ese” for the web version. See Arthur Street’s ads for further price reductions on his basket & trailer – also the last minute addition of a ‘clean’ privately owned 2.5m Westfalia trailer, always garaged ….
Martin Read’s Cameron hopper G-BRKL returns to the List following his sudden death with family member Trevor as contact. Another of our long time pilots from ‘Up North’, Bob Jones has sadly died during February. He will be remembered as the pilot of the ‘Holker Hall’ balloon G-BAAX in Cumbria in the early 1970s then a number of smaller passenger balloons thereafter. Your scribe remembers the Midlands Meet at Arbury Park in 2019 when with the wind direction such that a free flight had to be short with direction towards the Birmingham zone, pilots were encouraged to ‘bimble’ in the generous proportions of the launch field. Balloons launched from many areas in the park, a lot being forced to land before the trees along the ‘sides’ of the field. Bob went to the far upwind end, flew the maximum length of the field at balloon top height and completely nailed it – with a big smile on his face and with his granddaughter Jennie retrieving him … Not bad for an 83 year old! Our condolences to all the Jones family for their loss.
The next event is the BBAC Members’ Day and AGM at Greens Norton Community Hall, Towcester Road, Greens Norton NN12 8BL on Saturday 9th March. For the first time for many years Zebedee will be absent due to a Dante outing to visit Phil Dunnington’s grave in Amman, Jordan on what would have been his 77th birthday.