Aeromodelling since about 1963 (age 10), specialising in Control Line as principal hobby from about 1966. Specific interest in Carrier Deck Landing discipline from BMFA Nationals 1968 at RNAS Yeovilton onwards. Minor involvement in Carrier contest flying in early 80s, though contests ceased in mid-80s . Revitalisation of Carrier discipline by introduction of beginner class in 1994 (by Wal Cordwell, Chairman of Three Kings Aeromodellers club), with this leading to increasing involvement in flying Carrier with particularly emphasis on contest organisation. Full responsibility for annual Carrier contest programme from about 1996. Creation of Carrier Deck Weekend Workshops also in 1996. Introduction of Class 1 Carrier using US rules in 1998. Invited to join CLTC meetings as Guest representing Carrier's interests from 2003. Subsequent awards of Certificate of Merit and Arthur Mullet Trophy for contribution to organisation of Carrier activities. Representation of Carrier at CLTC meetings until present date, with additional co-option as CLTC committee member from 2020 onwards.

I have been involved with the sport of Control line since 1968 during which time I have mainly flown CL combat. Throughout my time I have won the National Championships in four classes of Combat and competed as part of the British team in both World and European Championships as well as several World cup competitions, one of which I won in Italy and others where I have placed in the top three. During my years of competition, I have been quite instrumental in improving the safety standards by re-writing some of the national rules and making sure that these are enforced to enable more people to compete safely. As my competitive years are now becoming shorter, I want to become more involved with the sport from an organisational and developmental perspective to make sure that the sport continues for as long as possible.

I have always had a keen interest in aviation and have been flying models since I was about 10 years old. My first model was a KK Soarer Baby glider that taught me the rudimentary aspects of building but in my haste to fly it, I chose a poor day to test fly and immediately crashed it! From there I progressed onto C/L having suitable facilities much closer to home so that I could get to and from the site on my bicycle. My first C/L model was a KK Firebird which again didn’t last very long. However through the great assistance of a civilian instructor at my ATC squadron that success was achieved and I became more competent at both building and flying of models although there were still a few casualties along the way. In the early days I flew mostly combat models with the occasional aerobatic model. I now concentrate on Team race. I began with Goodyear and progressed to the international F2C class. It is in F2C that I have represented Great Britain at 8 European and 6 World Championships. I served in the RAF for 31 years before retiring from the service in 2007, during my RAF career, I flew regularly at their competitions and have encouraged others to take up the sport. In 2008, I was granted Honorary Membership of the RAFMAA and have continued my association with RAFMAA although not as active as I would like.

My first introduction to aero modelling came at school in Leeds during the early 1970’s. After a short lapse in interest I returned to fly control line combat entering the Nationals in 1981 which was a disaster, I had however got the bug. Five years down the line with a lot of learning and help I qualified for my first world championship and eventually placed fifth. It was start of a twenty two year period where I rarely failed to make the top ten at a world championship and after reaching three finals in a row became 1994 F2D world champion in Shanghai. 2010 brought a new direction with a change to F2B aerobatics. Although I doubt I will ever as successful in aerobatic as combat I do like a challenge and qualified for the control line aerobatics team on a number of occasions since. I have been on the technical committee since 2012 and became chairman in 2022.