Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
 

Profile of a Member

Terence Antell

by himself (part 2)

1970 – Things moved on at a pace. I secured a position as trainee planner in a national plumbing, heating, air-conditioning & electrical company. After a number of years I became planning manager, having first become a services planner.  Lots of travelling throughout the UK, including Northern Ireland. First using train followed by having a company car and eventually flying almost everywhere in the UK. A driver and car provided at my destination. Hours were long, normally only having 4 to 5 hours sleep. Being diabetic meant keeping a constant watch on my health. The company introduced Fire Fighting and security into their field of work. I studied this outside of work before taking on managing security at the Tower of London and later at the gold vaults at the Bank of England. Both contracts required an MI5 & MI6 pass, plus signing the Official Secrets Act. I had meetings with our Royalty and some Heads of States over the intervening years.

I worked on ALL Marks & Spencer store contracts in Scotland over a 5 year period and ALL Cornwall Country Council projects, like schools, police stations libraries and Plymouth Uni. I enjoyed it all, but VERY tiring at times. This was over a 10 year period. I even met Annecka Rice (but please don’t ask).

Having survived until my 56^th birthday, where upon I had a major heart attack while at Lasham Airfield helping to run an aerotow model glider event.

That was 1^st Sept 2000.

Modelling

Continued with my Sailman glider, mainly on Chobham Common. I joined Bracknell & Dist Model Aircraft Club and immediately became Hon Treasurer. A year later I became Chairman, a position I held for 5 years until 1983 which is when I and 3 other guys started Thames Valley Silent Flyers. Why? Power flying and gliders, using a bungee, didn’t work. BADMAC had 15 members when I became Chairman, most were glider/power modellers. When I left and started TVSF, BADMAC had around 76 members, most just flying FW power models. At my last AGM a Motion was voted on to restrict gliders to Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons which translated into gliders not having a site in the winter months.

It took a few years for TVSF to find a private field for thermal gliders only. Later, electric powered thermal gliders came along. Performance was poor owing to the brushed motors and heavy batteries. Not the case today with brushless 3 phase motors and Lipo batteries. As you can see my main interests have been slope gliders and thermal gliders with the occasional drift into FW power. I ‘drifted’ into power in a big way when a few of us noticed that aerotow events suffered from the lack of sufficient tug models, plus these guys were getting so much more air time. It was usual for 25/30 gliders to turn up at an aerotow day with only 2 tugs. If one became unflyable glider guys would wait at least an hour for a tow up.

It took me a year to take and pass my BMFA “B” test. From then on I owned a few large models (I also joined the Large Model Association). Two ¼ scale Cubs, both with Zen 62cc petrol engines. Also a ¼ scale Taylor Craft with 62cc motor up front. My 1/3 scale Cub was beautiful to fly, using a 240cc 2 stroke petrol engine. It weighed 54lbs. The others were usually 24lbs. A large company car was a real boon. Also a large double garage, too! I flew with the JR team at a few shows, yes, I used JR gear. Ascot Model Show & the Sandown Show being the main events. One of my proud moments was being asked to be on the committee for Ascot Model Show. A position I maintained for 10 years. We managed to attract enough companies to donate £700,000 to build a Hospice. Ascot Race Course owned the land that Ascot NHS Hospital sits on. They donated a piece of land for the Hospice at the Hospital.  We had envisaged 10 years to raise the dosh. After 7 years we could see it wouldn’t happen in the time frame. The Chairman of the Show invited the Queen to open the Hospice. The Queen AND Duke both agreed.  Hell, we haven’t the money to build it we said. The chairman wrote to companies telling them we needed BIG money. The biggest donator would be presented to Royalty at the opening. Hell, we had the money (and more) within 3 months.

The model shows had collected around £10,000 at most each year. The Ascot Racecourse Authority donated the course each year F.O.C. Overall we had £750,000 and building commenced. It was finished on time with dosh to spare.

The committee chairman represented the committee at the opening ceremony. It was at this time I had my heart attack and stood down.

I had a VERY understanding wife, yes, just the one. After being advised that life expectancy was 4 to 7 years (2002) I resigned from work and took retirement on medical grounds. It was time to sell our house at Crowthorne, Berks and move.

After 20 years as Chairman of Thames Valley Silent Flyers (TVSF) I handed over the reins. This was January 2003. We moved to Barton in May 2003 and I made enquiries about a local model flying club. By August that year I was flying models at Barton Cliffs, Stanpit & Fawcett’s Field. On 29 occasions I’ve run model slope soaring holidays to South Devon and attended too many in North Wales with TVSF.

My aeromodelling enthusiasm continues to this day even after 47 years. May you all get the pleasure I’ve had from this wonderful hobby/sport.

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