Archive for April, 2011
Ernie (Bob) Hills
We are so very sorry to announce that Ernie Hills passed away in The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, on the 8th January. Ernie had been unwell for some time and in a lot of discomfort due to Arthritis and other complication, but thankfully died peacefully. He was 85.
Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Jean and son Tony.
Ernie served in WW2 with the RAF 6th Airborne and then in 1943 with The Army 512 Squadron Middle East Aerial Reconnaissance. Before he retired some 10 years ago, Ernie ran a very successful graphics, publishing and printing business. Even with his troublesome leg. Probably due to a wound received whilst serving with the 6th Airborne, Ernie enjoyed a game of Golf and in particular, Petanque.
He started to fly model aeroplanes in the early 50’s, as many of us did in Essex, at Fairlop Aerodrome in the days of balsa, tissue, dope, rubber and the Mills 1.3. Ernie was a very good model pilot, an excellent model engineer and thought nothing of constructing working replicas of a Mills or the odd diesel engine. His modelling skills were outstanding paying the utmost attention to the detail in rigging, finish, authentic artwork and cockpit detail. He built some beautiful models which attracted a lot of attention at public static displays on the Airfield and was awarded Gold for his Ryan STA Special 200 at the 1999 International Model Fair, Olympia. He also won the RCME Cup with this model. And yes, the model flew superbly; it was not just a work of art.
Ernie was a Founder Member of Chingford Club and was associated with West Essex, flying float planes but his real love was flying his models at North Weald Airfield, due partly to the associated WW2 history. He had been a member of the club for some 30 years and enjoyed flying his mini helicopters in the Squadron Mess during Sunday lunch time refreshments.
He was a member of our committee, a Static Display judge at many of our Scale Day events, a Member of the Airfield User Committee and was always prepared to help out and support the Club whenever he could. His contribution was considerable. He laid the Wreath for us, every year, on the Airfield FAR War memorial. He was committed to the club.
I would like to quote one of our members. George Ford, which sums up how we all feel: ‘What a sad loss he will be to his family. The Flying Club and as a good helpful friend. I was always impressed by his determined and cheerful demeanour despite the physical health problems he must have endured for as long as I can remember. I never heard him complain.’
Above all, Ernie was a gentleman, through and through. We will miss him.
David Windrow, Epping & North Weald Model Flying Club
Stan Horne
Introduced to aeromodelling early in life Stan carried on with his hobby even after joining the army as a boy soldier and whilst stationed abroad, back in this country and in Civvie street in the early 1960′s he became involved with the Huddersfield Association of aeromodellers. Around 1970 he was flying on Tinshill Rec. Leeds and then joined the Morley Club in the early 1980′s. He was Chairman of the Morley Club for over 25 years up to his death in February 2011. For many years he ran the Bowden Trophy events at many venues including the Nationals. His efforts were so appreciated by the Bowden Flyers that they subscribed to buy him a memento. Well known to model flyers all over the country for his free flight and vintage flying and as a long standing member of SAM 35 he will be sadly missed by his many friends and fellow club members. Our thoughts go out to his wife Mary and his family.
Colin Foster (secretary MADMAN)