Crookham Contest Modellers
The Club
Crookham Contest Modellers is a club
whose members make and fly
free flight model aircraft.
There are twenty members who regularly compete in contests both in
the U.K. and around the world.
Our member's interests are varied and together we compete in most
contest classes including glider, rubber and
power.
Early days
Crookham Contest
Modellers was founded in 1967 by a small group of flyers including
Gary Madeline and Peter Stewart.
Based in the South of England, it's local flying site was Chobham
Common in Surrey, a large area of open common land in the heart of
London's commuter belt.
Despite the report
in April 1965 Aeromodeller commenting on the planned construction
of a ‘high speed motorway’ (the M3), and statements
such as ‘Is Chobham doomed?’ the common continues to be
used for model flying.
The first club contest, the
‘Crookham Gala’, was held at Chobham on the 9th. of
February 1969. The May 1969 Aeromodeller magazine reports,
‘Some fifty hardy souls from London and the South-east braved
the snow and cold to attend the Crookham Gala’. . .
‘The organising club went to a great deal of trouble to
ensure that this was not just another Chobham Do.’ We also note that among the top places at the first Gala were
notable names such as Martin Dilly (1/2A power) , John West (open
power) and the late Jim Baguley (open glider). April 1973 Aeromodeller reports that the club's membership had
risen to twelve Although Chobham Common was used on many occasions for the Gala,
it's decreased size due to the afore-mentioned motorway
construction and other developments, forced the club to move the
event to other locations. Still used for informal events, such as
the Chobham Chilla (on boxing day), it is mainly used today for
sport flying and trimming (as well as radio control flying).
as a result of 'entering the transfer market’ and
‘signing up such notables as
Jack and Kath Allen'. Still flying with us today they both bring a wealth of
experience to the club.
Present day
Although the spiritual home of the club is still Chobham, the majority of it's members now use Old Beaulieu Airfield in the New Forest. This ex W.W.II airfield, now returned to nature and owned by the forestry commission, is home to six ‘area’ events held by the B.M.F.A. each year.
This is a sensitive site and is usable only by those flyers who hold a licence. Being home to many rare and endangered species of both fauna and forna, it is afforded special protection necessitating that is treated with great respect at all times.
The Crookham Gala is presently held at the Army airfield at Middle Wallop in Hampshire, a site that has been adopted by many clubs and organisations for model flying events in the South of the country.
The club has many contest wins to its
credit including BMFA area events,
the British Nationals and at events around the
world.
Future days
It is easy to be pessimistic about the future of free flight, but if history tells us anything, it is that we are actually stronger today than we were nearly forty years ago. Most young people don't have the opportunity to see the hobby, but when they do they react much as we did when we were young. They may use modern materials and sophisticated equipment but the thrill they get will be just as good for them as it was for us old-uns.
THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT, THE FUTURE'S FREE FLIGHT
Peter and Jane Stewart at Old
Beaulieu Airfield
(Photo: Jack Allen)
Kath and Jack Allen at Odiham in
1965.
(Photo: Jack Allen)
Jack Allen just a couple of years
ago with his F1C (international power class) model.
(Photo: Jack Allen)
(Photo:
Mike Woodhouse)
Crookham member Mike Parker and his "Dixielander" after winning Slow Open Power in the 1995 British Free Flight Nationals.
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