In 1969, a group of enthusiastic Bus Drivers and
Conductors from Leeds, formed the "Leeds City Council Transport Sports
and Social Club Gliding Section". (!)
Fortunately within a year they changed the name to the thankfully shorter
Leeds Gliding Club.
This was only a small band of enthusiasts with just one very old
and somewhat decrepit ex-RAF two seat glider and a tatty old winch.
As they had no real clout in financial terms they led a largely nomadic
life flying at various disused airfields in North and East Yorkshire.
They almost went out of existence several times but progress was slow
and steady and growth finally began to occur.
| A wood and fabric T21 glider, nicknamed "The Barge" |
The airfield (top left) from the industrial estate side |
In 1971 the first major development took place with
the signing of a secure lease at our present site on the old wartime
airfield at Pocklington. This is where the club really began to develop.
As many members were now not linked in any way with Leeds Transport
and the new site was now in East Yorkshire the name was changed to The
Wolds Gliding Club in recognition of its new locale.
Membership really began to grow and the equipment was gradually upgraded
and modernised. Growth throughout the seventies was slow however but
generally the Club was perceived in the gliding world as a solid little
organisation that one day may go places.
In 1983 a very significant development took place.
The members decided that paying out rent continually was a bad idea
from the standpoint of loss of money and the lack of long term site
security. We therefore applied to the Sports Council for a grant and
asked the Landowner if he would sell us the Runways of the old airfield.
This he did, and with a £50,000 grant and a very large bank loan the
runways became ours.
A great deal of hard work was now needed from the membership to ensure
our future financial well being.
The Committee and members were unstinting in their efforts to increase
the amount of flying and increasing our membership which was vital if
we were to ensure our success. Around this time we had a fairly aged
fleet of gliders with very old winches but they were inexpensive to
run so the need was at the time to pay off the bank loans so improvement
would have to wait. We erected a hangar and a small clubhouse all with
the muscle of club members and we felt were on our way!
Our new clubhouse, with an unusual visitor
in the foreground. |
| Our old K7 that was replaced.... |
| ...by K21's |
Throughout the eighties however our existence was assured and expansion
was rapid.
It was not until the early nineties however that things really began
to boom.
We began a large programme of renewal with the addition of two second
hand GRP gliders to the fleet and with the largest capital purchase
to date, a new purpose built winch.
At the same time the opportunity to purchase the majority of the rest
of the airfield presented itself and although it left us financially
stretched it was a chance too good to turn down.
We were now in the situation were we were an undoubtedly large gliding
club, with our own land, excellent launching facilities, a comfortable
clubhouse but with a fleet of gliders that desperately required replacement
if were to move successfully into the new millennium.
With the advent of funds becoming available via the Sports Council
Lottery Fund in 1994 we began to plan our requirements for a completely
new fleet of gliders.
This, along with the application to the Sports Council took us over
a year of hard work but the reward was, in the Spring of 1997 we were
told that our application for £78,000 for our fleet upgrading project
had been successful!
We then went to the Glider Manufacturers, and for the first time
in our history ordered new aircraft - three in all - taking our expenditure
to over £150,000.
Two ASK21's and a Discus were purchased to replace the old wood and
fabric K7's that had given us so much service for so long.
These new gliders were delivered at the beginning of 1998, leaving
us with a completely modern fleet of aircraft that is second to none.
What of the future?
Our development plans are far from over. The new clubhouse is judst
about completed and we are looking at purchasing more land.
Whatever our plans, constant development and growth are our two main
watchwords!