Meet the Team

John Archer
Membership Secretary

Allan Bain
Technical Officer

Graham Barlow
Chief Flying Instructor

Christine Bell
Chief Tug Pilot

Steve Blakey
Safety Officer & Tug Pilot

Paul Cunnington
Director & Treasurer

Colin Hussell
Introductory Flight & Tug Pilot

Richard Kalin
Flying Instructor

Bill Inglis
Airfield Owner, Introductory Flight & Tug Pilot

Frank Jeynes
Director & Deputy Chief Flying Instructor

Tony Johns
Juniors

Chris Long
Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador

Paul Kaye
Director & Chairman

Chris Morris
Director

Greg Paino
Director & Power

Dan Martinez-Norman Juniors

Karen Spicer
Café Manager

Mark Spicer
Operations Manager

Gill Stewart
Juniors

Craig Thompson
Social Secretary

Allan Wallace
Facilities

About Us

We are an active and open club, dedicated to providing flying for all at our attractive airfield located in the beautiful Vale of Evesham.

All who are interested in gliding, from beginner to expert are welcome. We can take starters from their first flight through to high performance soaring in club gliders with expert tuition and support all the way.

Situated very close to an area of uncontrolled airspace in the heart of the Country, we are well placed for the finest soaring conditions and provide all-aerotow launches to provide the best opportunity for great flying.

Power flying is also very much part of our operation and a number of private aircraft are based here, both vintage and modern, adding to Bidford’s unique aviation mix and appeal.

We are a member run club, aiming to support aviation with an active social life, with a clubhouse, bar and outside barbecue area providing us with a first class environment for the many social events that take place throughout the year.

We function through a Committee structure which provides a framework for member involvement to pursue our aim of enabling all who wish to fly to do so with minimal difficulty. We are a registered Community Amateur Sports Club, open to all sectors of the community and we welcome all prospective new members.  If you are concerned about costs, we have an Affordable Gliding Scheme designed to assist those on low or modest incomes.  Come and see us!

 
 

Meet the instructors

  • Graham Barlow

    Chief Flying Instructor, Full Cat Instructor. Graham first started gliding in 1973 and has been gliding at various sites all in the UK. He completed his basic instructors course at RAF Halton in May 2008 and since then has mainly been instructing at Bidford where he also has a share in an ASW15b.

  • Frank Jeynes

    Deputy Flying Instructor, Full Cat Instructor. With many years of experience in instructing and competition flying. Nearly 5000 hours in his log book, has 3 diamonds (gliding achievement awards) and a PPL (private pilot’s licence).

  • David Findon

    Full Cat Instructor.

  • Richard Kalin

    Richard retired from commercial aviation in 2019 so as to concentrate on gliding, but got the timing wrong due to the COVID pandemic! Since the resumption of normality, he has spent 2 summer seasons instructing in Benalla, Australia (somebody has to do it) hence the face scarfs for protection. When not at Bidford, I can usually be found in the skies above Yorkshire, instructing and tugging from Rufforth.

  • David Sandells

    Half Cat Instructor. David started gliding in 2000 and since then has attained his Bronze and Silver badges as well as Gold distance badge. He regularly takes part in competition flying and has flown out of numerous gliding sites. David also has a National Private Pilots License for Self Launching MotorGliders. He has been instructing since 2009 and has experience of 24 different glider types and 6 powered aircraft types.

    As well as flying David has also spent many years working on aircraft flight control systems design and lectures in Aerospace Engineering at Coventry University.

  • Alan Broadbridge

    Basic Instructor.

  • Bill Inglis

    Basic Instructor. Bill’s own first Trial Lesson was in Scotland in 1970! He has been involved with aviation ever since – with a few annoying breaks to earn a living.

    When not instructing or towing, Bill flies his Antares 18 metre single seat glider on long cross-country flights and in Regional and National competitions. He is also an experienced power pilot with a PPL plus a lapsed Commercial Licence and Instrument Rating.

  • Colin Hussell

    Basic Instructor. First glider flight in 1976 at the RSRE Flying Club at Throckmorton in an open cockpit T21. Joined Bidford in 1992 and have been instructing since 1997. Gold badge and 2 Diamonds (still looking for that elusive 500k).

    I gained my motorglider rating in 1999 and my PPL in 2006 I now own 1/3 of the yellow J3 Cub ZX and 1/3 share in a LS6. I have also been known to go sailing whenever the opportunity arises.

  • Chris Morris

    Basic Instructor. Chris has been gliding for 35 years and power flying for 30. Total hours are around 3100 with gliding 2250 and power 850. His gliding achievements include Gold C, 3 diamonds, a maximum height of 27,000’ (Feshiebridge) and a USA Commercial Glider Pilot rating. His main passion is cross-country glider flying with maximum distance flown in UK 680km.

    He flies a Ventus 2cxt and Duo Discus xt and has a share in an RV7 light aircraft based at Bidford. Instructing for around 10 years in total, he took a break from it and returned in 2017.

  • Allan Wallace

    Basic Instructor

  • John Archer

    BGA Qualified Introductory Flight Pilot. A member of the Club for over 30 years, John first gained his pilot’s licence at age 17 and has been both gliding and power flying since that time. He has a share in a Shark 304s glider and also flies an RV7 light aircraft when conditions aren’t good enough for gliding! Enjoys trying to improve his cross country flying and taking people on their first gliding experience flights.

  • Keith Edmunds

    Full Cat Instructor

Paul Turner, Director and Club Treasurer died on Friday, 26th January 2024

Previous Officers of the Club

It is with great regret that the club, following the wishes of his widow Sally, has to announce the death of Paul Turner at Saint Richard’s Hospice, Worcester.

Paul had been the backbone of the club, steering us through the good times and the bad times, such as COVID, with good humour, diligence and his great attention to detail. His dry sense of humour would always be present during discussions about the future direction of the club helping us make the right decision and his knowledge of accounting has helped the club survive recent difficult times. 

We wish to show our respects for a great man and know that he will be much missed by all the members and, of course, his family and friends.