The Trent Valley Gliding Club, based in Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, faces an uncertain future after being notified its lease won’t be renewed. Home to this club since 1974, the airfield houses an 80-strong membership, whose ages span from 13 to 80 years old. The club, a key element of local aviation next to RAF Kirton, was surprisingly asked to vacate the premises by 10th October.
Richard Malam, the 69-year-old club chairman, is intent on fighting this decision, voicing worries about members leaving if the club has to relocate. In his own words, ‘Any new location will be unfamiliar, and this could potentially deter our members.’ RAF initially used the airfield as a gliding school, symbolising 85 years of aviation history at this site.
As the club strives to navigate these turbulent times, local community support provides some comfort. One of the club’s instructors, Rick Jones, aged 58, emphasised the complications in securing a replacement airfield, pointing out that ‘Finding new airfield locations is no simple task.’
This article has been reworked from original material sourced from www.bbc.com, as initially reported by The Lincoln Post.
