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| A
most welcome change to the Hall and Social Club is the car park
and the addition of the wall adjacent to the front of the Club.
Luckily for us the Parish Council managed to raise £10,000
from West Berkshire Council, which they put towards laying a tarmac
car park and new wall. This had become essential given that the
old car park had become a morass of mud and debris as a result
of increased traffic to the new village shop. It is early days
but it looks very smart and gives a whole new feel to the area.
Unbelievably (or perhaps not) 2
people have already reversed into the wall. |
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Text : Ed James
photos Matthew Clayton :
Ken Tarbox
The Pre-Cheltenham racing forum
| East Garston's annual pre-cheltenham forum proved to be a very successful evening with over 100 people in attendance.The panel of racing experts included, the head of handicapping at the British Horseracing Authority, Phil Smith, former jockey turned tipster Colin Brown, jockey Andrew Thornton, and trainers Ed James, Oliver Sherwood, Stan Moore and Pat Murphy. The panel discussed the races and took questions from the floor. |
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| This year the event was sponsored by Star Sports Bookmakers who donated £500.00p. to the Injured Jockeys Fund and £500.00p. to East Garston Village Hall. The evening itself raised £700.00p. so a cheque for £1,200.00p. is on its way to the Injured Jockeys Fund. |
photo
The Newbury Weekly News
Farewell to our Spitfire
Summer afternoons in the village could, and often did, prove to be tinged with nostalgia, admiration and down right unadulterated pleasure as the unique and beautiful sound of a Merlin Engine growled its way up the valley toward us. Eyes would scan the horizon for that first glimpse of the infamous Supermarine MK VIII Spitfire piloted, by owner, Robs Lamplough or his friend Pete John. In no time at all it would appear, coming in low over the grass air strip at Manor Farm. A steep climb, followed by a victory roll over the open counrtyside Bank right, and a second much slower approach, lining up the aircraft with the strip below. It was always a thrill to see her arrive as there was then always the chance of seeing her again in a very short space of time. I would spend many hours working in my own garden, with a spade in one hand and a camera in the other- just in case. |
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| Our
Spitfire was aquired in October 1961 by Sqn Ldr 'Titus' Oates,
for restoration as a memorial to Battle of Britain pilots. It
was subsequently moved to Bankstown Airport and reassembled. However,
the plan fell through, and it was sold to Sid Marshall of Marshall
Airways, for a museum. ...Eventually, Robs took ownership and
the MK-VIII, arrived at Duxford in the winter of 1979. It went
to Charfield, Gloucester, for restoration to airworthy condition,
and was registered G-BKMI. The final assembly was at Filton Her
first flight was on May 28th 1994. |
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| The
only Supemarine Spitfire Mk VIII fighter in Britain, MV154/G-BKMI,
has been sold to Max Alpha Aviation. The former Royal Australian
Air Force machine will soon move from its current base at Filton
~ to Bremgarten, Germany, where it will take up residence in the
Meier Motors hangar. I was fortunate enough to be here on March
the 9th when she left, and watched the final flypast and roll
before the plane levelled out for the last time and headed west
toward Filton. |
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| Robs
shared his passion for the Spitfire with anyone who was of a like
mind, actively encouraging close quarter examination and enjoyment
of a kind most enthusiasts would never experience in a lifetime
of airshows. I and many others will miss very much the brief but
exciting mini air displays we enjoyed here in East Garston for
so many years. Thank you Robs for all the pleasure you and G-BKMI
have given us. |
photos
Ken Tarbox
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