THE great grandson of one of the founders of Lakes Gliding Club said his ancestor would be ‘disappointed’ with BAE’s decision to revoke its use of Walney Airfield.
Lakes Gliding Club was dealt a shock last month after members were told they would no longer be permitted to use Walney Airfield after more than 60 years.
BAE – who own and operate the airfield – have said they can no longer accommodate the club on the site following a review.
The decision sparked backlash from the club’s members who described it as a ‘massive blow’.
Following the announcement, a petition has been launched online to save the club, which has already garnered more than 1,000 signatures.
READ MORE: Petition launched to save Lakes Gliding Club in Walney from closure
And Barrow MP Simon Fell has revealed he hopes to find some brokered agreement with BAE which works for the club.
The Lakes Gliding Club was founded in July 1930 and was originally called The Furness Gliding Club.
The founding members of the club were Commander Craven, the top man of Vickers Armstrong Ltd, John Fisher, owner of Fishers, and Joseph Stanley Redshaw, a director of Vickers and father of Sir Leonard Redshaw, Barrow shipyard manager.
These three put in the initial funds that got the club ‘off the ground’. The club started at Gleaston Park Farm in July 1930 and moved to Kirkby Moors by October 1930 when the first flight occurred.
Cark airfield at Flookborough was the base until 1946 when they moved to Walney. By 1964 Walney had become the club’s home and the top men of Vickers was again the source of presidents.
Joseph Redshaw’s great grandson Tim Redshaw has described BAE’s decision to evict the club from Walney Airfield as ‘disappointing’.
Redshaw, who lives in Ulverston, said: “I find the whole thing disappointing and short-sighted from BAE.
“From the three people who formed the club, two of them came from Vickers and one of them was the grandson of James Fisher. These are two of the biggest and most historic companies in the area and one of them has decided to shut it down.
“I’ve been hearing rumours for years that BAE has made it more restrictive for the club. This has been on the cards for years.
READ MORE: BAE Systems gives Lakes Gliding Club notice to leave Walney Airfield
“It’s a real shame. My great grandad, who set up the club, would be very disappointed with this. My grandad flew into his early 70s and my father flew up until almost the day he died.”
Mr Redshaw is ‘hopeful’ the decision will be overturned by senior management at BAE.
He said: “I am hopeful something can be done but there would need to be someone at the top of BAE to overturn what’s been decided.
“This is one of, if not the, oldest gliding club in the UK. BAE are all about investing in the communities where they are involved but by definition they are not investing in this, they’re getting rid of it.
“It’s a shame we can’t work with them and develop it further. It’s just another thing people are stopping because of a perceived risk.
“There’s nowhere else in Cumbria it can be moved to. Some people have been commenting that this is just a ‘rich man’s sport’ but that’s not the case. All sorts of people went there at the weekend and were equals at the club.
“I don’t understand why they’ve made this decision, 90 years later they’ve changed their minds.”
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