I was brought up in Hawkers.  I was born the day of the Christmas Dinner and my health was toasted by the likes of Tommy Sopwith and Sydney Camm plus many more ‘40’s aviation names.  I learned to drive at Dunsfold where my Dad, John Gale, was Product Support Manager and Aerodrome Manager.  On returning from 15 months in Australia, I worked in Flight Test Services mainly typing Harrier documents.  It was meant to be a temporary job for 12 weeks but I was made Secretary/PA and stayed for 12 years. I love being on the Hawker Association Committee with many of my Dunsfold colleagues and new Kingston friends.

Membership Secretary – Diana Dean

Job description: I took over this job about 4 years ago.  My main ambition was to get as many members as possible to receive newsletters and notifications by email.  We were paying out so much on postage and printing.  These costs have increased, especially the postage.  I have managed to get 268 out of 300 members to turn to email which means we are in regular contact for speakers and events.  I inherited several lists which I have now amalgamated and spend several hours a week phoning, writing or emailing past members to see how they are, if there are any changes of address or telephone number and if they still wish to be members.  It can be frustrating if I receive no replies.  The committee has decided that if a past member has not paid for two years and has not responded that they will be removed from the current list.  I still have their contact details if they want to rejoin.  I also encourage paying for more than one year.

The membership currently stands at 300, 15 less than last year but including 12 new members. Sadly the following members are reported to have passed away recently: Derek Bowden, Chris Farara, Reg Hippolite, Terry Howes Stanley Lawson, Jennifer Nicholas, Dave Oliver, Roy Whitehead, and George Wilson.