David Lloyd-Jones  -  1937 - 2022 David passed away on 31st March 2022. David was born in Aberystwyth on 10th January 1937. He leaves a son, Ian, a recently deceased daughter, Tracy, and two grandchildren, to whom he was totally devoted, Jessica and Joshua.He started aeromodelling at the age of 10, and he also had a great interest in motor sport.After leaving school, he completed a 5-year aircraft engineering apprenticeship at De Havilland Aircraft factory before carrying out his ...

On Tuesday 22nd Mar./22   Another Northern Free-flight modeller made his final Fly-off.     A Church Fenton / Rufforth regular,he was very much involved in both Glider and Rubber Club Competitions in the 50's / 60's.    He had various designs published via Northern Area News over the Years.    One of his Northern group was Mike Proctor who was encouraged and mentored by Gerry as a junior, eventually becoming    wellknown himself...

A tribute to Reg Strudley.It was sad to hear from his long-time partner Sylvia that Reg Strudley had passed away on February 14 at the age of 79 and it was a surprise that just a few days before I had had a fifteen minutes conversation with Reg when I rang him to have a catch-up chat. This was followed by a request from John Goodwin the chairman of the Haverfordwest Model Club in West Wales, asking if I would write this tribute to “our” Reg Strudley and I readily agreed to do it.I fi...

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of my good friend Dave Swarbrick, after a long illness.Many of you will have met and know Dave from the model aircraft shows that he attended.Born 10th May 1945, Dave’s childhood was spent in the family’s 3- acre market garden on Blackpool’s famous Marton Moss. The family grew mainly Greenhouse crops of lettuce, tomatoes and Chrysanthemums and David was the fourth of five children. It was Dave’s older brother Bob ...

Many members will have met and known Bob over the years either in the UK or at the US SAM Champs in Muncie or Henderson when he, his grandson Alex, sons Anthony and Julian, attended events over the years. He was a Dr. of Analytical Chemistry and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry and worked his whole career for the Clayton Analine chemical company in Manchester where now stands the great Manchester City football ground and training facility. Bob also served in the British Army Royal Sign...

I am deeply sorry to have to report that Laurie Peake, a long-standing member of Fleet & District Model Aero Club, passed away recently. Laurie retired at the end of 2018, and he was anticipating a more relaxed lifestyle, including playing squash and golf, but then along came COVID and hampered his plans. Even so, as restrictions relaxed this year, he was able to start looking forward and planning again. Laurie was a Senior Engineer with British Airways and his modelling skills were of ...

Terry Rounce, who died on October 2nd, was introduced to model flying at Fairlop in 1947 at the age of ten by his father. He worked as a pilot for 18 years and was a long term member of Bretons MFC, which he joined in 1982 and had been a past club chairman, as well as secretary for 29 years. He represented his club at London Area committee meetings from the 1980s and it was soon clear that he was a man who was prepared to buckle down and do the work that was needed, rather than just talking abou...

It is with great sadness that I have to inform BMFA members that Roy Bamford, a long term flyer and committee member of Park Hall Helicopter club has passed away in August.Roy was a generous and helpful person, putting lots back into the community. Following retirement from BT, he has supported children with their learning in after school classes and helped adults with numeracy and literacy skills, as well as undertaking other worthy volunteering activities. Roy was well known in the H...

Gordon Cornell, one of the great characters of UK aeromodelling, has died peacefully at the age of 88. Probably as famous for his eccentric personality as for his enormous talent as an engineer and craftsman, Gordon’s whole life was lived in model aviation, from his professional involvement with FROG and ED in the fifties, to his cottage industry supplying hand- built diesel engines, which occupied him until his brief final illness.         &nbs...

Obituary for Chris Tompkins - RIPWe are greatly saddened to report the passing of Chris Tompkins during February 2021. Chris started aeromodelling in 1946 while still at school and joined the Oxford Meteor Model Flying Club in 1948 and was then flying free-flight power and later became active in R/C thermal soaring competitions. He played a major part in establishing BARCS (British Association of Radio Control Soarers) as the special interest group within the BMFA. He was BARCS member ...