By: Sedbergh - 9th May 2011 at 18:51
Chris Wills – VGC
Dave
Very sad news indeed. It’s not often that one man can be said to be responsible for a whole movement but Chris’ vision of a group of people banding together to look after what, in the dawn of the plastic age, was a very quickly dwindling number of pre-war gliders was visionary.
It is also in my mind almost entirely down to Chris that the VGC became an International organisation. I don’t know how many languages he knew but he could talk ‘glider’ to the whole of Europe!
I see mention of his archives – I seem to remember that he had left them to the RAF Museum at Hendon, not sure what they would make of them, however I wish whoever takes them on the best of luck. Without Chris’ encyclopedic knowledge trying to make head or tale of them will be some task.
A sad loss to aviation.
Peter
By: slicer - 5th May 2011 at 11:18
That is very sad news for his family and the vintage gliding movement. I hope his archives will be well looked after.
By: low'n'slow - 5th May 2011 at 09:19
Very sad news. I know some members of the VGC who were at Thame last weekend were planning to visit him. It seems so appropriate he was in touch with the sport he loved, right to the end.
Happy Landings Chris.
By: Soggy - 5th May 2011 at 08:47
RIP Chris, and thank you for everything you did for the vintage gliding movement.
soggy
Cornish Gliding Club (1967-1995)
By: Astir 8 - 5th May 2011 at 08:17
I never found anyone who could provide so much information on vintage gliders and old-time gliding in general. He’ll be greatly missed.
By: Rocketeer - 4th May 2011 at 23:12
that is sad lovely chap, also a great brass bandsman in the Roke and Benson brass band….blue skies and horns old chap
By: Fournier Boy - 4th May 2011 at 22:34
Oh dear, a most excellent and friendly chap who I remember well and fondly from many Vintage bashes over the years.
A font of knowledge of all things gliding that will indeed be sorely missed…
FB
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May 4, 2011 at 10:08 pm