PARISH PROFILE

Equally at home mending them, restoring them or flying them the love of aircraft has been central to Martin Slater's life. It has led him to follow a fascinating career in the aircraft industry in which he has made a significant contribution to the care and renovation of much of our aviation heritage.

Martin was born in Otley in Yorkshire. Before he was born his mother worked at the Avro factory in Yeadon during WW2 building Lancasters and Ansons and he says he absorbed his love of flying with his mother's milk. At the age of fifteen he became an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer at Yorkshire light aircraft Ltd at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Ten years later a move to Bristow helicopters at Redhill saw him being sent to Nigeria as a chief engineer in Lagos. He loved Africa but two years later he was back in Redhill. Then after periods in Abu Dhabi and Qatar and a brief spell on North Sea oil rigs Martin spent eight years in Dubai working mostly with Bell and MMB helicopters. Then in 1986 came the moment which was to lead to his work with historic aircraft. While doing a flying instructors course at Coventry he was offered the opportunity to work at Air Atlantique with the iconic DC3 aircraft operating out of Baginton. Martin subsequently became heavily involved in the formation and running of what is now ClassicFlight.com which is still part of Air Atlantique. This company owns and restores classic aircraft and offers charter and pleasure flights as well as aircraft for static and flying displays.

Martin is also a council member on the Historic Aircraft Association, representing the Classic Jet Operators Association.

Apart from having flown a wide variety of aircraft Martin also holds a gliding licence and is a tug pilot. He owns and flies a 1947 Auster light aircraft which he uses for instruction. Not content with classic aircraft Martin also own a classic car, namely a 1949 Riley Roadster. He also has and plays with a quarter scale steam traction engine.

Martin has been married to Pauline for 37 years. They have lived in Wellesbourne for 23 years and have two children, James and Joanne, and five grandchildren. Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and Billy Connolly make him laugh, as does Pauline's wit. He enjoys classical music, but being a true Yorkshire man Martin also has a fondness for Jake Thackray. His favourite book is ‘Songs of a Sourdough’ a collection of poems about the Canadian North by Robert Service. When it comes to food Martin is a traditionalist – liver and bacon, sausage and mash and fish and chips are his favourites but the latter must be fried in beef drip­ping. He admires Winston Church­ill, a man of many inspirational words. A moment in history he would have liked to have been at was the Battle of Bosworth Field taking with him with a spare horse for Richard.

Martin is now moving into retirement mode and is looking forward to taking to the open road, touring the UK and Europe with Pauline in a motor home.

NLB

Girlguiding UK Centenary

Guiding members from Wellesbourne put best foot forward along the Shakespeare Way to Celebrate Girlguiding UK Centenary

On Saturday 26th June, the hottest day of the year so far, 25 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from Wellesbourne joined members of Girlguiding Kineton Division to take part in the County walk organised by Warwickshire as part of Girlguiding UK's centenary celebrations which began last September.

The event saw hundreds of girls and their leaders covering different stretches of the Shakespeare Way which runs from the Globe Theatre to Stratford upon Avon. The walk in fact began at Crystal Palace to remember the day when girls gate crashed the Scout Rally and asked Baden Powell to do “Something for the Girls.” Sections of the 100 mile path were split among the Warwickshire Guiding Divisions with 13 different groups covering all parts of path.

Kineton's section began at Long Compton and ended at the County camp site in Shipston where the walkers were met by Councillor Mrs Dot Courtney who presented them with medals and special badges. She also presented the Division with a special certificate to thank Guiders for all the work they do with the girls. The day ended with a barbecue and ice cream and plenty of drinks. It was certainly a day to remember.

One of the mysteries of the East was explored by members of Wellesbourne Women's Institute this month when the speaker entered with appropriate musical accompaniment and gave a demonstration of belly dancing.

Val Rainbow, who has fifteen years of experience of this type of dancing, wore an exotic costume with brilliantly jewelled embroidery and gave a very professional performance, much enjoyed by her audience.

When she regained her breath she explained some of the history of belly dancing which may have started as goddess worship thousands of years ago and certainly had traditional country-dance origins. Contrary to popular belief dancers were quite well covered but the costumes were decorated in a way which emphasized the female form. In more modern times fashions changed and the two-piece costume was introduced. Val passed round some beautiful examples of heavily encrusted costumes which she had brought from Egypt.

 Members were then invited to take part in the dance and some enjoyed trying to copy the expert.