In 1977 three local modellers, Brian Bayton, Peter Reeves and Rob Harding, together with Rob's wife, Irene, conceived the idea for a Club to promote modelling in all its disciplines with the expectation that this would appeal to the youth of the town. They arranged a public meeting at the Town Hall on 17th March 1977 which was attended by upwards of 20 people. The range of modelling interestes among those who attended varied from boats to planes, and from plastic figures to train layouts - but a common bond was clearly evident and Cricklade Model Club was duly formed.
The first committee meeting was held at the Bear Inn on 18th Apirl. This was followed on 7th June by the first public display, held at Prior Park School, in connection with the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations. Further static displays included the Club's narrow gauge railway layout (constructed by Dave Miles) but with neither flying nor boating facilities outdoor activities were confined to electric car events on the Town Hall car park. It was not long, however, before Brian Bayton and Peter Reeves gained permission to use Down Ampney airfield for model flying. Mike Nowell acquired the use of water both at Latton and Ashton Keynes for boating and later obtained free use of Little Rissington airfield for flying - but with the site at Down Ampney so convenient to Cricklade no member ever used it!
At the first A.G.M., held on 2nd March 1978, the Chairman, Mike Chaplin, was able to report upon a thriving Club. Public flying demonstrations soon followed and fund raising at local shows became a regular feature with the construction of highly popular "Bomb Run". Other events included full size gliding evenings and visits to venues such as the Severn Valley Railway, Sandown and the Model Engineering Exhibition. The Club even negotiated its own insurance scheme for just £1 per head!
Despite these varied activities it became increasingly clear that there were problems in trying to balance the differing modelling aspirations within the membership. The Down Ampney facility began to attract a growing number of flying members from outside of Cricklade whilst stalwarts of other interests such as Barry Pea***** (boats), Dave Miles and Mike Nowell drifted away. By 1990 the Club had dropped all its facilities except for Down Ampney and in 1994 became affiliated with the BMFA. In 1998 it finally changed its title to Cricklade Model Flying Club. Membership has since remained steady at around 50 whilst the Club has continued to welcome younger members and others wishing to fly.
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