Welsh Borders Paragliding Club

Dear past members and friends of Welsh Borders Paragliding Club,

Following discussions and approvals at the AGMs of Welsh Borders Paragliding Club and Mid Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club held on 2 December 2023 and 13 April, respectively, the two named Clubs have combined. A copy of the Minutes of the WBPC AGM are attached.

The combined Club is named Mid Wales and Borders Soaring Club/Clwb Esgyn Canolbarth Cymru. For contact details and membership please go to www.flymidwales.org.uk .

Steve Parsons and Piers Nesbitt, past Chairmen of WBPC and MWHGPC, respectively, are joint Chairmen of the combined Club for the current year to help oversee the amalgamation. Piers Nesbitt and Will Barstow are the combined Club’s Sites Officers dealing with the former MWHGPC and former WBPC sites, respectively.

WBPC has, with effect from combination of the two Clubs, ceased to operate. Timed to coincide as close as possible with the Membership “Year” used by both WBPC and MWHGPC (April to March), flying members of the former WBPC are encouraged to become members of Mid Wales and Borders Soaring Club/Clwb Esgyn Canolbarth Cymru soonest. The former MWHGPC did not have a category of membership equivalent to Social Member, such as that available within the former WBPC and, presently, the combined Club does not have Social Membership available. However, there is an ongoing discussion around that so please look out for future announcements if you are interested in remaining involved as a non-flyer.

In accordance with the resolution made at the WBPC AGM, a donation of £2,000 from the former WBPC’s funds has been made to Welsh Air Ambulance. The balance of those funds has been transferred to the combined Club.

This marks the end of an era for all those involved in and with WBPC but the formation of the combined Club, with safeguarding of sites and promotion of flying in the area at heart, is a major achievement for both clubs.

I personally do not hold a position in the combined Club and am “out” so if you have any ­questions to do with the combined Club please make contact via flymidwales.org.uk.

With best wishes, Dick Jeffcoate, past Social Secretary of the former Welsh Borders Paragliding Club.

Wales Air Ambulance / Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru

Beautiful evening flight from Aberedw Hill. The ‘mist’ in the distance is smoke from a hill fire, trailing all the way down to Brecon.
Thank you Will

Planning some summer flying trips, why not come and join the Welsh Borders Paragliding Club at Fforest Fields? Ffriendliest flying club around, we may not have the best club house but we have one of the best flying sites in the country!

Email me on [email protected] for a membership form!

Will

New membership forms being sent out, do you want to be part of the best, friendliest and most relaxed Club in the country (so they tell us!) drop me an email, [email protected] and I shall send a form over. Will

This will directly affect one of the best flying sites in the country, 18 x 220m high turbines proposed for Aberedw Hill

I know this is very short notice but to find out more please come to the meeting in Builth tomorrow.

AN ENERGY PARK ON RADNOR FOREST AND MORE PLANNED FOR NEIGHBOURING HILLS, PYLONS FROM HERE TO CARMARTHENSHIRE? THAT’S THE PLAN. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
To hear more and to have your say, you are invited to attend a public meeting on Thursday 2nd of March at 7.30pm. It will be held in the Hafod a Hendre Room 1 at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY .
This will be your chance to learn what is known about plans to build a huge energy park on top of Radnor Forest, along with 60km of overheard cables to link it to the grid in Carmarthenshire. The energy park would include 36 x 220m tall wind turbines, a solar array and more planned for neighbouring hills.
This is your opportunity to comment on the plans and to let us know, as a community, how you think we should respond. The meeting will be chaired by Rachel Evans of the Countryside Alliance. Other community groups and political representatives will also be there to tell us what they have learned so far. This is just the beginning, but it’s important that as many people as possible attend to have their say.
So, whether you are a farmer, landowner, community leader or member of the public, you will be very welcome!

The late, great, our very own, Dick Hinchliffe.....Always worth a watch!

Bubble helmet to cure hay fever (TV-am) ENGLAND: Helmet / bubble hat invented for possible hay fever cure. Quite funny sequence with people walking in London, wearing big bubbles over their heads. ...

That was worth it!

Pizza night in the courtyard for the British Hang Gliding National Championship pilots who have been based at Fforest Fields this week. Although, sadly no northerly winds meant they flew elsewhere!