Katherine Reynolds, senior activities coordinator at Elm Grove Care Home in Cirencester wrote in to share this story with us. It is about one of her residents, Steve Ormerod. Enjoy!
“Back in the early 2000s when he was working as a systems engineer for Fujitsu, Steve was given a team-building offer of three free trial flights on a tug aerotow to 3000 feet at the Lasham Gliding Society in Alton, Hants. After that experience he was hooked on gliding! He immediately took another three flights, launching from a winch. He fell in love with the freedom, the silence, and of course the magnificent views to be had.
From then on Steve’s goal was to achieve his solo pilot’s licence. It took a long time for him to gain the skills and experience necessary and he had to go through many simulator flight talks covering emergency procedures. Eventually Steve was granted his first solo flight – his goal had been achieved!
On retiring to Cirencester in 2012, Steve joined the Cotswold Gliding Club near Stroud. From here he took a few more flights in a K13 with an instructor called Dave, learning spins and dives, gaining more experience, and even taking the glider to 5000ft. On one flight he was delighted to pass over Cirencester town centre and the parish church.
Steve liked to wear his favourite blue and white rugby shirt whilst gliding and still wears it to this day!”
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