On Thursday 19th of September Les Ormrod, a long time member of our club, died after a short  stay in hospital. Les  was a very friendly person who easily got along with everyone. Les had varied interests, but his main passion was aircraft of which he had a large collection. I  don't think  there was an aircraft  built  that he didn't  like! Les was often accompanied to the field by his wife, Betty, who also took a keen interest in his pursuits. Les was liked by everyone, and will be keenly miss...

Mike Knapp, Chairman of the Beaufort Model Flying Club, passed away on 11th August 2019 aged 84 after a short illness. The Beaufort MFC was formed in the early 70s and steadily expanded to become one of the largest in the Western Area. Mike joined the club in the early 80s and, with his son Ivor, flew a wide range of models. Mike and Ivor were early ‘Bishops’ and flew exciting fast IC powered models in duo routines. Mike was a skilful model builder and an early and enthusiastic convert to elec...

Firebirds Model Flying Club club member and author of the much read BMFA New ‘Nostalgia Notebook’ feature, Roger Stanton passed away on May 29th this year. Roger was a proper ‘old school’ aeronautical modeller who told stories of how as a child, he saved up his pocket money, dreaming of the next model that he would be building. Many of his stories made it to a much wider audience via the pages of the BMFA News magazine, through which he made many friends and contacts. Roger’s love of avia...

Obituary by Terry Jones Northern Ireland Area Secretary & Achievement Scheme Co-ordinator It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Robert Wallace. He lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at his home on 3rd April 2019. He leaves behind his dearly beloved wife Jacqui, much loved daughter Paula, son-in-law Columb, much loved granddaughter Clara. Robert was not only my good friend but also my mentor, small in stature but with a huge heart, I always say the bigge...

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Bill Michie on Wednesday 9th January 2019. Bill was born in Essex but his family moved to West Africa when he was aged 2. They then moved to Rhodesia where Bill served in the Rhodesian Air Force 74 - 81 before moving to South Africa. He flew precision aerobatics (F3A) in South Africa - called pattern then - and won several National competitions, but was not in the National Team due to work and family commitments. Made the FunFly Championsh...

Sadly on the 19th December Noel passed away in Alnwick Infirmary , aged 82. His family comprising Mel, Zoe and Lia were at his bedside. The funeral was held in St Pauls church Alnwick where the numbers attending indicated how much Noel was loved and respected-very much so. His family are greatly appreciative of the condolence cards and messages of sympathy they have received about their Dad. Noel was well known in the local area , clubs and societies of various kinds and from the aeromodelling c...

It is with sadness that I have to report the death of Robert (Bob) Cutter, who passed away on 29th August. Bob was a founder member of the Felbridge Flyers Radio Control Model Club in 1979. Bob joined the BMFA South East Area Committee in 1982 as Chairman until 2013 when he stood down, over 30 years in the post. Bob was a happy jolly person and always saw the funny side of life even in recent years as his health deteriorated. His funeral will be on Thursday 6th September at 3pm at the Surrey a...

On March 25th, British aeromodelling lost not only one of its most celebrated national and international competitors but one of the very few remaining links to our beginnings before World War 2. Ray Monks built his first models at the age of seven or eight during the 1930’s- free flight, of course, there was nothing else in those days- and by the early forties he was entering competitions. In 1945 he won the S.M.A.E.’s prestigious Hamley trophy (on what is now Heathrow airport) and in 1951 qua...

It is my sad duty to report the death of recently retired BMFA Chairman, Chris Moynihan, who passed away at his home on 6th February 2018 after a long battle with cancer.  Chris had been receiving treatment for some time but remained in good spirits and active as BMFA Chairman for as long as he was able.  Having started model flying as a 10-year-old in 1956, Chris was drawn towards silent flight where he made his mark as a keen thermal soaring competitor and competition organiser. However, alwa...

It is with great sadness that I am to inform you of the death of Terry Jones on Thursday 18th January 2018. Terry had been battling cancer for quite some time and became very ill last Sunday. Penny, Kate & Lucy were all with him when he passed. Terry was a long standing member of the Blackdown Radio Control Club and will be sorely missed by many past and present. Terry joined the club around 1990 and was always an active member of club activities, especially the bring and show events...