››An Auster Afternoon At Rearsby

By Mike Preston

The AGM was held ot the 15th September at Rearsby village hall, see below for some pictures of the event.

It’s that time of the year when we in the Heritage Group feel the urge to re-live our youth. That means its time for the Annual Auster Get together. Last year’s event being particularly memorable as it was Ambrose Hitchman’s 100th birthday. This year the event was held at Rearsby Village Hall this is just down the road from the site of the factory which made our famous little aircraft.

This year the Heritage group committee decided to invite all the UK club members to this event which took place on Saturday 15th September. This was in addition to the 150 members of the Heritage Group. As usual the event took place in the afternoon with the meeting concluded at 5.30 with the Heritage Group AGM.

The committee and helpers arrived at about 1.00 pm. Started setting up the furniture, sorting out the food, video projector and a stalls with various items of club memorabilia and the usual Heritage Group collection of books and prints.

The time came to open the doors and wait for the customers. People soon appeared and were greeting each other like long lost friends which of cause they mostly them were. The tea counter was doing a roaring trade. We then started showing the various videos we have acquired during the past year. One showed the Auster Club AGM at Leicester Airfield. The second was an Australian video detailing the case of the Auster Archer which took off without a pilot. It was decided after two hours of solo flying to shoot it down. After a number of unsuccessful attempts it fell to the navy to take care of the final deed. This was followed by a slide show of people and events which charted the history of the Company. This presentation is a useful catalyst to bring back memories of the past.

During the afternoon a number of photographs of members of the company were handed over to the Heritage Group. The daughter of Albert Codling, the chief inspector gave us a photograph of Albert, together with one of herself holding the company teddy bear. A copy of the catalogue from the sale of the Beagle Company was also doing the rounds.

All to soon it was time for tea, the pork pie, Sandwiches and other savouries were the precursor to the home-made cake and yet more tea. Thanks to my wife Beryl for providing the afternoon food and tea.

The formal part of the afternoon followed tea. The AGM included a report on the past years activities which included the Ambrose event and book sales. The accounts were presented and they revealed that the Heritage Group has resources of £4,428.63. It was explained that it was the aim of the group to produce another book during the next year. The existing committee was re-elected on mass. The afternoon concluded with many people saying they would be back again next year and leaving the hall clutching sweat shirts, badges and books. There was some talk of trying to organize next years event linked to a fly in to Rearsby airfield again a sort of return to Rearsby 2008!

Suddenly it was quite and everyone had gone home, the committee started to clear the hall it was over again for anther year. Thanks to all the committee and other helpers particularly Beryl for all their help during the afternoon. Hope to see you next year.

Mike Preston Chairman International Auster Club Heritage Group.