G-VFWE is supported by a magnificent group of volunteers who
turn out year after year in all weathers. We’ve gone from
sunstroke, through monsoons, to hypothermia, and still the volunteers
return. The much-admired team of ‘volunteers and pressed
men’ began to assemble at the Thruxton staging in 2000.
Since then many new faces have arrived on the scene to support
that original nucleus. We hope that most if not all of the existing
team will continue their commitment and contribution to the re-launched
event.
Event Administration - Terry Booker - Vintage
Flying/G-VFWE Ops
G-VFWE is headed up by Terry Booker as ‘Operations Manager’,
a role that spans everything from raising the funds, sorting the
toilets, buying the dinners – and acting as ‘Aerodrome
Manager’ at the event. Terry has been knocking around the
air show scene for more years than he cares to admit to –
let’s just say that as a kid in short pants, he was taken
to the first post-war SBAC show at Farnborough!
He also runs the ‘add-on’ events to G-VFWE under the
banner of ‘Vintage Flying’ and, with selected members
of the team, provides a ‘grass-up’ air show team for
other would-be organisers. He also arranges the special Fly-Ins
of vintage and classic aircraft at established events like the
Air Day at Yeovilton.
Aircraft Enquiries - Peter Campbell - Cirrus
Associates (SW)
Co-founder of the event with Terry but now semi-retired he is
still involved in admin and turns up every year to be our 'resident
dignitary'.
Pilot Registration - Mike Andrews
This also doubles (or trebles) as ‘Show Information’
and ‘The Office’. It is run by Mike Andrews, known
to all on the field as ‘Colonel Mike’. An ex-Army
Air Corps Officer, Mike ran the Museum of Army Flying and was
for many years Director of the Middle Wallop International Air
Show and of the many other events staged on Europe’s largest
grass airfield. He is also responsible for aircraft liaison pre-
and post-show and maintains the vital 1,300-plus database. He
is helped at the event by Mike Dulson – who is also the
rallying point for the volunteers and ensures that everyone gets
fed and watered. Another ’regular’ in the office is
‘Jules’ (Julian Kemp), boss of Technical Services
who provide our commentary box and PA and likes us so much that
he ‘volunteers’ to help out during the event.
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The team divides into ‘Airside’ and ‘Crowdside’
staff and, if one includes the regular and much-welcomed support
of Air Training Corps personnel, can see as many as 70 or 80 bodies
helping to run the weekend.
AIRSIDE TEAM
Operations Controller - John Davis.
John is a retired RAF Wing Commander, test pilot and Nimrod driver
who also spent several years as an Inspector with the CAA on the
air show circuit. His normal role is that of Display Director
at shows all over Europe and beyond. He is Chairman of the Air
Display Association Europe (of which we are members) and his key
role is to ensure the safe management of all the airside activities
– from the documentation and compliance with all the regulations
to the efficient running of the airfield on the day. Reporting
to John are the Air Traffic team, the RFFS Units, the airside
Paramedic and the Airside Marshals.
Senior Air Traffic Control Officer - David Smillie
Air Traffic Control Officers - Steve Le-Vien,
Mick Cool
With a combined experience of approaching 80 years the ATCO team
will ensure that hopefully all the pilots and members of the public
will see is a formation of graceful Swans populating the White
box. However, as the event unfolds in all its splendour, our metaphorical
little legs will be going like the Bl---y clappers.
On Monday we will slip back into the hospital wards from where
we have been released that include major regional and London airports
where we fill various senior positions.
Air Traffic Services Assistant - Annabel Cook
The Assistant's job basically involves recording all the aircraft
movements and (where time permits) managing the radio communications
between Air Traffic Control and other ground channels. As such
it holds a high level of responsibility not usually indicated
by the term 'assistant'.
Annabel holds an Air/Ground radio certificate for North Weald
(where she worked in airfield operations for two years) and trained
as a Flight Information Service Operator at Duxford. She also
has a pilot's licence and is an officer in the RAFVR (T), commanding
Kidlington Squadron Air Cadets. Her day job is as Public Engagement
and Communications Officer for the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human
Genetics, at Oxford University. 2007 will be Annabel's third year
on the team.
(Traffic
Patrol article written by Annabel and copied from
Today’s Pilot magazine can be found here)
Airside Marshals
‘Pan Dancers’ to the rest of us! These are led by
Glenn Stanley, and must be one of the most experienced teams in
the UK. Many are ex-Service (and serving) personnel and they can
often deploy as many as 15 marshals to guide and park our airborne
visitors. They travel large distances to be with us and, at peak
times, can be expected to handle 80 or 90 aircraft an hour . .
. in all weathers. Most have been with us since the 2000 staging
and many also regularly support our other venues up and down the
country.
If there are any experienced marshals out there who would like
to join our elite group, please call Terry on the Ops line (01202
737430) or e-mail to vintageflying@ntlworld.com and let’s
chat.
RFFS (Rescue and Firefighting Service)
Provided by Light Aviation Fire and Rescue Services Ltd. headed
by Val Moss. Although obviously a contracted company, they are
very much part of ‘Team G-VFWE’ and our first-choice
suppliers on occasions when we undertake our event management
roles on other airfields.
Fuel Marshal
One of the other unsung and usually unseen heroes is Mal Sharpe,
who spends the whole weekend stuck out in the middle of nowhere
administering the fuel issue to thirsty aeroplanes. Mal lives
in Swindon and also helps out pre-event by getting our publicity
materials out into the local area.
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CROWDSIDE TEAM
The ‘crowdside team’ are always first on and last
off the airfield. Their duties involve almost everything you can
think of that will contribute to the efficient and friendly running
of the event. Each small section has its responsible ‘crew
chief’. All the key personnel have many years – if
not decades – of event organisation under their belts.
During the set-up period everyone ‘mucks in’ to get
the jobs done on time – and there are a lot of jobs to be
done! Airfields simply swallow time and equipment . . . . from
scores of cones and runway markers, hundreds of fence pins and
literally miles of barrier tape, all of which have to be precisely
positioned. Then there is on-site and off-site signage, setting
up the ‘office’ and reception areas, chasing up contractors,
siting traders, rigging phone lines – and trying to snatch
a quick cuppa!
Then, when everyone else is going home, hopefully with eager smiles
on their faces, the whole job has to be done in reverse and everything
retrieved and loaded.
Manager - Chris Wood
Chris has control of all things on the public side of the fence.
He and Terry worked together on the old Exchange & Mart Events
Team and he also had his own event management and training company.
He brings decades of organisational and logistics experience to
the field – and is deputy to Terry should the old chap go
down!
Logistics - Peter Chidgey-Hallan
ZULU 3, ROVER. These are call signs for Peter who provides virtually
all of the heavy equipment for the event. This includes everything
from more cones than local Police Forces, instant signage, reels
of telephone cable – and lots of stuff we don’t even
want to know about! Once it’s all in position, Peter, ably
assisted by his wife Sophia, and his Land Rover constitute the
‘instant response unit’ for unauthorised intruders
– from would be spotters to flocks of rooks. Another ‘old
hand’, Peter has been involved with Terry and Chris for
close on 20 years.
Gate - Ed Winship, Jimmy Bloomfield, Charles
Reynolds and Alan Garrett
Ed is one of the 'babies' of the team having a mere five years
event experience. This does however cover four annual aircraft
shows and many others of different varieties. A lively and outgoing
personality, he is ideal as 'first contact' with exhibitors and
public alike.
Jimmy is 'little' to Ed's 'large'. Another livewire, he is often
borrowed by different departments to assist in various ways. He
is likely to be seen all over the site.
Charles is a comparative 'newbie' this being his third year.
A radio presenter and classical singer in real life, his people
skills make him a welcome addition to our team.
Alan has a wealth of experience going back to the age of twelve
when he started out as 'errand-boy' for his father at aircraft
and motorcycle shows. He has been involved with Chris, in different
capacities, for some 19 years, and with G-VFWE since 2001. A versatile
chap, last year he joined the admin team for this website as editor.
Commentators - David Lee and Ross Sharp
We are very proud of our Commentary Team, both are distinguished
aviation historians as well as dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts. David
is closely involved in all things Duxford, while Ross is a former
manager of the Science Museum collections at Wroughton. Both have
been members of ‘Team G-VFWE’ for many years and have
even been seen (on rare occasions) helping to fence the airfield
and to clear up the post-show debris – there’s dedication
for you!
Ross and Terry worked together in Wroughton’s ‘glory
days’ presenting Fly-Ins, Transport Shows, Model Shows and
the ‘one-off’ ‘War Wings’ air show. These
days Ross is without doubt our most travelled volunteer –
hopping the ‘Red Eye’ route each year from his home
in Massachusetts.
Air Training Corps
Where would we be without them? The nucleus has always been formed
around 1011 (Amesbury) Squadron and provides literally scores
of enthusiastic young people for car parking and general stewarding.
They are also vital to the slick exercise of re-fencing the air
park for public access each lunchtime.
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