The Andrewsfield Christmas do, was held at Channels golf club, on December 3rd.  As usual this was a black tie event, with approximately 200 diners gathered together to celebrate the festive season.

 

The Heelan's Flying Circus were able to put up a good show with pilots and partners:  Shane & Kim, Steve & Debs, Steve & Lindsay, Richard & Angie.  Rob made a late decision to come along and was fortunate in that he bought the last available ticket!!   Kim, Debs, Lindsay and Angie, looked stunning in their cocktail dresses and the chaps looked very dapper in their DJs. 

Kim & Shane; Debbie and Steve R

The nine of us met near the bar area and fought our way to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks, this proved difficult as the bar was just as busy as the circuit on a summers day.  Steve M and Richard were seen "going around" several times, before finally touching down at the bar to buy some drinks.

To add to the occasion and to stand out from the others, Steve M brought along some clown red noses for the Circus pilots, which were worn at various points through-out the evening.

 

The food was of a very good quality, as was the friendliness of the waiting staff, which helped make the evening a most enjoyable one.  After the meal there were speeches by Carol Cooper, looking back over the last 12 months at Andrewsfield. Jim Heelan was remembered and the Flying Circus got a special mention for keeping Jim's idea of club flyouts alive.  Jim's wife (Steph) was at the do and presented the Jim Heelan Trophy to Peter Watkinson for completing his IMC rating this year.  The Jim Heelan Trophy will be awarded annually to an Andrewsfield member who has advanced his/her flying during the year.

(I remember the first year Lindsay and I went to the Airfield Christmas do,  most of the chaps were in DJs, or shirt and tie but not Jim, he was wearing a red roll neck sweater.  This was Jim down to a tee, not bothered by what others did, he did his own thing his way).

For some reason the dancing coincided with several hours of drinking (at least that was Shane's excuse when he took to the dance floor with Kim) and the evening progressed well with more drinking and dancing and recollections of past aviation feats and daring do.  The Uniform Delta syndicate took a little leg pulling about the serviceability issues of G-ASUD, since buying into the aircraft but this was well meant and well taken.

Near the end of the evening it was noticed by Richard that one chap was seen to be dancing with many different women, it was not long before the chap who turned out to be an Aussie, set his sights on the ladies of Heelan's Flying Circus.  First he encouraged Kim to the dance floor (photographic evidence captured the moment), then Debs and then Angie.  Lindsay managed to escape this phantom Aussie dancer.

 

All too soon the evening came to an end (carriages at 01:00h) and we went our separate was home, happy that a good night, with good friends was enjoyed by all.  We look forward to next Christmas and hope that some of the other Flying Circus pilots and partners are able to join us (pantomime commitments permitting - Peter & Thelma).

 

Steve M (Col)

Pictures and red nose by Steve M (Col) and Lindsay (Mrs Col).