BBQ and auction sale 2019

Just back from a lovely day the 2019 North Downs BBQ and auction sale. A good turnout of members and of friends of the club.

We kicked off with an excellent BBQ, courtesy of club Chair John Moyler (North Downs’ very own twisted firestarter – did you see how he was lighting that charcoal?!) John stuck to the key BBQ basics and he executed them perfectly: sausages, burgers, the freshest of rolls.

From then on, the day belonged to the memory of Norman Eyers. Norman was a loyal and valued member of the club who died last year. He remained an enthusiastic flier well into his 90s and he was in the air at North Downs until just a few days before his death. No-one who knew him will ever forget his prolific building, keen (if sometimes hair-raising) flying or his mordant sense of humour:

The Norman Eyers Cup

The club has commissioned the Norman Eyers Cup to honour Norman’s memory. This will be awarded annually to recognise the contribution of a North Downs member. It was great to have Norman’s son Martin there to do the presentation (and we hope he will return to present again in future years). The very first recipient – and Norman would have agreed it could not have been anyone else – was Ron Bayne. Ron was a full-size pilot, flying Vulcans in the RAF and then became a pilot instructor. He has been a modeller since childhood and is still our most frequent flier. He carried the club pretty much single-handed in its infancy and steered it, with Jim Rubie, through the protracted process of obtaining the planning application which has given our flying some security. And he is still everyone’s go-to test pilot and a sympathetic but rigorous club examiner. Today – before he had any inkling he was to be honoured – he put on an inspiring flying display with his beautiful Ryan PT. Best congratulations to Ron!

Martin Eyers presents the Cup to Ron

After the award, Norman’s modelling gear was sold – the bigger items by auction. North Downs is hugely grateful to Martin, and the rest of the family, for donating all the proceeds to club funds – very generous. The multi-talented John Moyler transformed himself rapidly from BBQ chef to auctioneer, persuading big wodges of cash from members, prospective members and even from Charlie Hills and family. (Charlie is joint owner of the field – great to see him and his family, and to see the way in which their enthusiasm for model flying was kindled – though son William is going to need some time on the buddy-box with a trainer before he tackles that Spitfire!)

Update 10 Aug: Total raised for club funds by the auction and sale is confirmed by Mike Hodgkiss at a splendid £1220.

Update 7 Jan 2021: the Norman Eyers cup has been awarded for 2020 to Bryan Searley, ex-secretary and stalwart of our mowing. Bryan consistently does a fantastic job on this, effectively and with great good humour. The actual presentation awaits the end of Covid.

A great day and a great way to remember Norman.