Flying Scholarships for the Disabled

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Silver Jubilee Anniversary lunch for Scholars

The group picture below, (click it to enlarge) taken by Peter Viccars, includes most of the scholars who attended the lunch at the Aviators Hotel, Sywell on Saturday 7 June.

Persistence pays!

Two weeks ago Emma Suddaby (2006 scholar) achieved her UK NPPL through sheer persistence. Last year, when her health deteriorated, she used the time to study and pass her exams and then completed her flying training during this spring.

Emma is seen here receiving the "Wings Around the World" salver and certificate from HRH Prince Feisal and Chief of the Air Staff Sir Glenn Torpy at RIAT 2007.

Lucy Cannon, a 2007 FSD scholar, has recently been awarded a place in BA Leaders for Business management graduate scheme. Late in 2006 she applied for a position on BA’s 2007 course, but with competition from 4,000 other applicants, she only got through a couple of stages.

However for this year’s intake Lucy managed to complete 6 assessment stages to fight off 800 other applicants for one of 18 places. She starts on 6 October and after a comprehensive training programme, which includes 2 weeks in Terminal 5(!), she will begin her first of 3 placements in BA departments before applying for a permanent managerial position in her preferred department.

Lucy said “The application for a 2008 place began after I finished my flying scholarship in South Africa and I had resigned myself to not getting through again. However, even though each stage I completed was taken in my stride, I still felt it would lead nowhere and it wasn’t until the final stage that realisation set in!

I definitely hold the scholarship accountable for ‘finding myself’ – reawakening my personality and independence. As a result things just seem to be getting better and better and the future now looks very bright. Thank you again FSD”.

Sue Whitby (FSD Director) writes: "I am looking for 25 volunteers this year (for the 25 years of FSD's existence) to participate in a fundraising tandem skydive. The jump will take place on Tuesday 2 September at Hinton Skydive Centre, Brackley, Northants. The cost per volunteer is £180 which must come out of sponsorship money. The skydive in 2007 raised over £10k and I am hoping to beat that in 2008." Please contact Sue for further details on 0870 800 1942 or sue.whitby@toreachforthesky.org.uk.

STOP PRESS!

The book "Wings Around the World" has just been published in paperback for £12.99. It tells the story of Polly Vacher's solo flight around the world routing over the North Pole and Antarctica. It's a fascinating read and can be bought now, on line, from www.worldwings.org All proceeds go to FSD.

Last week the final selection board for this year’s scholars took place at RAF Cranwell, and thanks to a record number of sponsors, we were delighted to be able award a record number of full and UK NPPL scholarships; and the fact that we were able to award so many in our Silver Jubilee year was an added bonus!

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight; Bendix King; British Airways High Flight; the Entrepreneurs Fund: the Flying Farmers; the Guild of Airline Pilots and Navigators; Jeppesen UK; Oasis Hong Kong Airlines; the RAF Charitable Trust and the Red Arrows Charitable Trust. The scholarships sponsored by the Flying Farmers and Jeppesen UK are in association with Wings Around the World and the two in-house scholarships are named after the late Paul Bowen and Joan McNally. Joan is FSD’s accountant and we wanted to recognise, in this way, our appreciation for all the help and advice she has given us over the years. She will be missed when she retires at the end of April.

Carrie Begg; Mat Bishop; Richard Davenport; Steven Hopwood; Alex Krol; Jayne McCormick; Ben Owen-Jones; Paul Soper and Ian Wilson

In thanking all our sponsors for their generous support and congratulating our 2008 scholars we commiserate with those candidates who attended the final selection board at RAF Cranwell, but who were not selected. Click here to view a larger version in a new window.

Candidates, moderators, members of the FSD selection board and RAF Cranwell staff.

A big thank you to the BBMF

At a recent Dinner to celebrate their 50th anniversary, the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight raised the magnificent sum of £35,000 for FSD. Squadron Leader Al Pinner asked us "to spend it on as many scholarships that the money will run to" and we were only too delighted to accept his request!

Date posted 18th February 2008

FSD's Annual Visit to the Red Arrows

Our now traditional visit to RAF Scampton took place on Wednesday 30 January, the party consisting of FSD Director, Sue Whitby, who can be seen seated on the left in the picture below. Next to her in the front row are 2007 scholars Tom Shepherd, Victoria Barr and Lucy Cannon.

As usual we were made most welcome and had a thoroughly enjoyable day with members of the Red Arrows Team.

FSD visit to the Red Arrows

Date posted 2nd February 2008

Emma, who was awarded a UK NPPL-type scholarship last year, was nominated by a person or persons unknown for the Shropshire Star’s “Woman of the Year” award. In her own words, this is Emma’s story:

“When a neighbour told me my picture was in our local paper, the Shropshire Star, I wondered what I’d done…but it turned out to be the most flattering, touching of articles, I’d been nominated for the annual Star’s Woman of the Year award.

I don’t know who did nominate me; the Star won’t divulge the identity of my anonymous Champion, which only adds to the mystery of the whole thing. Over the year, nominees are whittled down by a committee, for the 8 places available in the final Gala Awards Ceremony, held this year in Shrewsbury’s plush Albrighton Hall on November 2nd.

The Ladies-only event felt like a luxurious throwback in our strictly politically correct World, and who else could I take along as my ‘plus one’, than my long-suffering Mum? She truly deserved the day, far more than me, having been my Rock through it all.

We were met with smiles and champagne and mingled with the other nominees and their guests, while photos were taken of the final 8. It seemed like all the Great & Good of the female variety that Shropshire has to offer were all gathered in one place, and the knowledge that they had come in honour of me and my fellow finalists, made me very proud.

The top table was made up of the deciding committee members, and the guest speaker for the day was Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Minister for Cohesion, who made an engaging speech, followed by the organiser of the day, Jackie Gaze OBE, reminding the assembled throng of each nominee’s personal achievements, as awards were presented.

She said the nicest things and when it came to my turn, I was so swept up in her beautiful rendition of my story; I totally missed the fact that she’d named me as Runner-up! I thought something must be up when my Mum, dissolved into happy tears beside me, but it took the lady sitting on my other side, a relative stranger, to yell, “You’re Runner-Up! You poor thing!” before she dissolved too, until I understood and went to collect my beautiful, engraved rose-bowl.

We behaved like a room full of women would, and exchanged life-stories at high volume over tea, cakes and chocolates – what more could a woman want? While a raffle was drawn with the most incredible prizes I’ve ever come across, balloon rides, spa days, a far cry from the usual ‘tombola sherry’ I’m more accustomed to.

I didn’t win on the raffle, but how could I complain when I’d just won such an incredible honour? It was so refreshing to even be considered for this award, an acknowledgement that someone out there had glimpsed my teeth, gritted with pain through the sunny smile I shone at them, and that someone had noticed and appreciated me hauling myself out of bed, swallowing my painkillers, and bracing myself for a day I could easily be excused from.

The Star’s Woman of the Year Award felt like the culmination of a process that my scholarship with FSD, began. It was my chrysalis, my new beginning after some really dark times. I now understand, from first-hand experience, why FSD use the analogy of a pebble, thrown into water – the ripples of my scholarship are still radiating through my life, returning to me the confidence I’d lost, somewhere back along the winding corridors of chronic disease”.

Emma in the centre of the other ladies nominated for the “Woman of the Year” award (picture by the Shropshire Star).

"I'm on top of the world"

That's what Andy Lewis said after passing his NPPL last week. Andy was awarded a UK NPPL-type scholarship this year at Goodwood which is 35 flying hours and associated ground school. At his own expense he then went on to pay for a further 12 flying hours to achieve his NPPL.

Asked his next move Andy said that short term he would probably return to Goodwood next year to see if he could get his PPL. Long term he would like to be an instructor but meanwhile would be satisfied with a job in the aircraft industry!

Any offers?

This unique event is the brain child of the Duke of Richmond and combines competitive flying and driving experiences that money normally cannot buy.

The first event was held at Goodwood on 14 October 2005 and raised £40,000 which was shared between FSD and Boxgrove Priory Enterprises. The second event took place on Friday 12 October 2007 and raised a similar amount for the same two charities.

Up to 12 teams of 5 people take part and all participants are assessed by instructors for various driving/flying disciplines with the team scoring the highest points winning a beautiful engraved glass trophy.

The choice of cars available for driving (2/3 per competitor) on the Goodwood Motor Circuit this year were Super Cars: Dodge Viper / Porsche 911 / Ferrari 360 and Lamborghini Diablo and Classic Cars AC Cobra / E-type Jaguar / Aston Martin DB4 / Porsche Carrera R5 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Also during the circuit programmes each team took part in a Go-Kart race and Skidpan competition.

Anthony Reid, former British Touring Car Champion, was also on hand to show every driver “how it is done” with a “Hot Lap” in a BMW M3, touching speeds of 150mph!

At the Goodwood Flying School everyone flew and landed a Piper Warrior as near as they could to a fixed marker on the runway, hovered a Helicopter over a fixed point and landed a Boeing 737 at London Airport (thanks to BA High Flight’s simulator!). They also fought duels in the sky with Breitling’s Fighter Challenge simulators!

FSD didn’t enter a team but were well represented on the ground including scholars Mandy Pantall who gave an excellent lunch-time talk about the Charity, Emma Suddaby, Paul Holzherr and Andy Lewis who was at Goodwood for his UK NPPL-type scholarship.

Emma Suddaby with Anthony Reid before her “Hot Lap” which she said was nearly as exhilarating as flying!

Well done Kath!

Kath Allsop, a 2006 FSD scholar, has just flown solo and she is seen here with "one of the biggest smiles I've seen in a lifetime", to quote her instructor, John Griffin, the CFI of the Airbus Industries Flying Club, Filton, Bristol.

Kath was determined to carry on flying after her scholarship at 43 Air School, South Africa last year and having gone solo she is now equally determined to get her PPL.

Kath is also a practical supporter of FSD having helped Sue Whitby staff FSD stands this year at the Mobility Roadshow and RC Simulations' Open Day.

Attention all surfers

An excellent suggestion from 2006 scholar Judith Margolis is that FSD supporters should use the search engine www.everyclick.com which allocates 50% of its gross revenue to charity each month.

FSD is already listed so all you have to do is type "Flying Scholarships for the Disabled" in the box provided for naming your chosen charity - and thank you very much for doing so.

Date Posted 23rd October 2007

FSD at the Jazz Age Garden Party

For the second year running the Jazz Age Garden Party was held at Chavenage House, Tetbury. Originally planned for Sunday 29 July it had to be postponed until Sunday 30 September because of waterlogged grounds.

All attending have to be dressed in the 1920's/30's style and among other attractions was a magnificent display of vintage cars. This year FSD benefited from the raffle which was drawn by Mandy Pantall who is seen here being driven round the estate in style by "chauffeur" John Dunn!

Mandy was ably supported on the day by Sue Whitby and Janet Bowen.

Unexpected visitors to Goodwood

Richard Chambers and Andy Lewis were thrilled when Al Pinner and a colleague paid them a surprise visit at Goodwood where they are training for their FSD UK NPPL-type scholarships.

Thrilled because Al Pinner arrived in a Hurricane and his colleague in a Spitfire! Both Fighters belong to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Squadron Leader Al Pinner is the Officer Commanding and Fighter Leader of the Flight.

The BBMF are great supporters of FSD and it was typical of their generosity and goodwill to touch down at Goodwood en route from Shoreham to their home base. Andy and Richard were able to "experience" the cockpit of the Hurricane and both are seen here with Al Pinner.

Meanwhile they have both flown solo (but not in the Hurricane!) and are generally progressing well with their training. Rumour has it that Richard is a very good cook and that Rosemary Taylor is waiting for an invitation to join them for dinner in their self catering accommodation!

Andy (seen climbing into the cockpit in the picture above) & Richard are both seen here with Al Pinner.

On Wednesday 5 September Sue Whitby, FSD’s intrepid director, persuaded 15 other brave souls to join her for a tandem skydive at RAF Weston on the Green. Not only did they all land safely but between them they raised sufficient money to pay for a scholarship next year.

Sue was able to persuade 3 ex FSD scholars to take part in the jump (Mark Salter, Louise Scotter and Martine Wright), 3 people from RAFCTE and 3 from RAF Cranwell, John Rowley and 3 of his friends, 2 personal friends and her Godson!

Rumour has it that she will be organising another tandem skydive consisting of 25 jumpers next year as one of the events to celebrate FSD’s Silver Jubilee. Forewarned is forearmed but if you would like to be one of the gallant few you know who to contact!

All in all a job well done – our grateful thanks to Sue and her “volunteer” squad for an amazing effort with an even more amazing result!

At the beginning of August Ian Revell and two colleagues from Manchester Air Traffic (Jon West and Tim Mackay) took part in the Dawn to Dusk flying competition. The idea of the competition is to 'Encourage the most interesting employment of a Flying Machine within the limits of competent airmanship and to demonstrate the capabilitiesof pilot and machine in a days flying, during the hours between Dawn to Dusk in terms of furthering some original and praiseworthy objective'.

They decided to overfly all the airfields in England that have seen a USAF presence since 1947 - the year of the formation of the USAF, which celebrates it's 60th Anniversary this year. They ended up spending nearly nine hours airborne starting and finishing at Liverpool -if they'd gone in a straight line they would have reached Prague!!

They have published an account of their exploits at;

http://dawntodusk2007.blogspot.com/

They are also raising money for the Royal International Air Tattoo's Flying Scholarships for the Disabled charity.

The volunteer Air Traffic Control team at the Tattoo are raising money to sponsor a full PPL Scholarship. If you enjoy reading the Blog and feel that you would like to donate to the cause, please follow the link from the Blogsite adding AIRTRACON in the 'Title' field of your address details.

The pundits had forecast heavy downpours of rain for the afternoon of Sunday 15 July so Sue Whitby, FSD Director, very wisely took the decision to have the Presentation Ceremony inside the Northrop Grumman marquee. Whilst not very large it was big enough to accommodate the scholars and most of the VIPs with family and friends watching the proceedings from outside, but under cover.

For the first time FSD Trustee Susie Dunbar was master of ceremonies and an excellent job she made of it too despite the fact that the public address system broke down at one stage in the proceedings!

Highlights of the Presentation Ceremony included the presentation of wings to nine 2006 FSD scholars by HRH Prince Feisal of Jordan who also gave certificates to the nine 2007 FSD scholars present (four were under training in South Africa and another in Scotland). This year’s scholars also received the traditional flying suit from ACM Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff.

The George Stewart Memorial Trophy was awarded to Mandy Pantall and the Wings Around the World Trophy to Emma Suddaby.

Presentation cheques were given to Prince Feisal by Captain Rod Fulton on behalf of GAPAN; by Al Pinner on behalf of BBMF; by Steve Bridgwater on behalf of D2D and by Captain Stratton Richey on behalf of the British Airways High Flight Charity who in turn was presented by the Prince with a framed and signed letter from Queen Noor thanking BA High Flight for all the help and support the charity have given FSD over the years.

Some of the other generous sponsors present were Denis Taylor of the ACT Foundation, Eric Ward of the Red Arrows Charitable Trust, Mel White of Bendix King and Peter Viccars of the Viccarage Trust. Click here for more images.

HRH Prince Feisal and ACM Sir Glenn Torpy flanked by FSD scholars and the USAF Thunderbirds.

Just off in time!

Our first four scholars bound for 43 Air School, South Africa this year took off from LHR on Saturday 30 June - the day the 2 cars packed with explosive materials were found in London and a third rammed Glasgow Airport. Just a few hours later LHR, with other UK airports, was put on "critical alert" and closed to traffic.

We wish them every success for what we hope will be a most enjoyable experience.

So wrote Wendy Arnfield in a New Year email to FSD Director Sue Whitby. She was of course referring to her own scholarship experience in 2003 at WMU!

Wendy manages a residential unit attached to a school for young people aged between 3 and 19 years old with physical difficulties as well as overseeing others who are able to attend the mainstream school.

“The Newsletter was amazing and I was very touched by Emma Suddaby’s piece about flying and how world changing it was for her. My scholarship assisted me and empowered me with a greater thrust for myself. Emma’s story brought it all back – I smiled all the way through.

What FSD and the scholarship gave me personally impacts throughout my daily life. Last year I was asked through work to visit a young boy of 14 after his arm had been severed in a boating accident. Like Dan I have no left forearm.

He felt that his world had been turned so turned upside down that it had ended. To help him come to terms with the fact that he still had a great future I shared with him my scholarship experience. I told him that it had turned me into a strong individual; giving me a purpose in life and making me feel proud of myself. Dan beamed throughout my story and at the end told me he was going home to ride his bicycle – something he hadn’t done since his accident and something he had missed so much.

So the scholarship for me, as I’m sure it is for others ,wasn’t just a six week experience, but a world changing, mind blowing chance for individuals to see themselves as being special.”

The Limbless Association asked FSD if we would like to nominate one of our scholars for their "Services of Other Users" category in their Annual Awards scheme. We did and she won!

Our congratulations to Sue Hanisch (1998 FSD Scholar) and when you read the story we wrote about her for the Limbless Association (click here) you will appreciate why she was nominated by us and why she won the award".

Judith Margolis, a 2006 FSD scholar, is off to 43 Air School, South Africa on 12 August and whilst there is writing a diary on the internet for the benefit of her family and friends.

However she has now very kindly agreed to share her writings with us all and they can be seen on http://judith-fsd.blogspot.com/

Thank you Judith and good luck to you and to the other scholars who will be with you – Kath Allsop, Paul Woolley and Martine Wright.