I was watching the BBC News today and saw that Mary Ellis, the ATA Pilot who flew at least 400 Spitfires as well as Bombers and other aircraft from their factories to RAF airfields during WWII, has died at her home on the Isle of Wight, aged 101

She was born in Brize Norton, so one of us, a local girl

What a really remarkable woman, an inspiration to us all, proving that age and sex should never hold us back

What weather! I have never experienced anything like this in this country since 1976, though it has proved a boon for those organisations organising events like the RAF International Tattoo up and down the country

The next meeting on the 1 August will be an informal business meeting, giving us the opportunity to look back on the successful events we have organised this year and plan for 2019 and see if it’s possible to repeat some of them on an annual basis?

One thing we must discuss is The Coffee Morning at Willersey? I personally have no fixed ideas and see it as an open book, I look to the membership for any ideas which we may develop. It is a great opportunity to think afresh and possibly come up with something new?

I must congratulate Keith Moule and his band of helpers. His enthusiasm for Wings Week is thankfully insatiable, where he gets the energy from I do not know, the figures in Peter’s report below speaks for itself

The Trip to Coningsby, combined with the Evesham branch, is going ahead and we have twelve going from the branch on the 22 August , It should be a great time and Pam and I are really looking forward to not having to drive for once. Later in the year I am hoping to get Shane and Lesley Willetts of the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association, who have organised the trip, to come and talk to the Branch, watch future Newsletters

Keith Moule tells me that when RAF Little Rissington closed in about 1976? their Standard was laid up in Bourton on the Water Church.Recently the church has been thoroughly refurbished and the Churchwardens have decided that the standard and that of the local Royal British Legion are not going to be displayed. Following some discussions it has been agreed that the RAF Standard is to go to Little Rissington Church a more appropriate location. Keith I am sure will be able to up date the Branch on the current situation and how we may be involved.

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Lygon Arms Hotel, High Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6HB, at 6pm, commencing with short business meeting, in the months of May to August, and at 11am in the months of September to April, with no meeting in January, followed by a Branch Social. Spouses, Partners, friends and relatives are always very welcome.

JOHN S SERMON

Chairman