Hallo again Tango Charlie,

I had not read these posts before our exchange today, otherwise I might not have usurped the Q6 thread to post what I did. It is so interesting to learn more of Symon’s activities. He was, indeed, a character, as the trip to Rotterdam showed. The reason we were ‘requested’ to return having just departed was because he had forgotten to pay the landing fee! Once paid, he took off once more, but clearance to AMS was refused, and so we returned home, as mentioned, via Southend.

On the earlier flight from Toussus (we had in fact popped in to Persan- Beaumont), we had to divert to Le Touquet because she was only running on three. I believe we just squeezed in to WW at last light, and before the mushroom pickers went to work!

The chap doing the navigation was our local vet, Holland Birkett, who owned Auster J/1N Alpha G-APKL, based at Blackbushe, and who perished in it with his second wife Margaret on 8 July 63 at Berck-sur-Mer. I believe your father was in France at the time and intended meeting them there. Originally, Hollie invited me to go along, because Margaret at first did not feel like it. One of the roads over the north end of Blackbushe was named in his memory. Hollie was a founder-member of the Austin 7 club, and I believe there is still a race named for him run at Silverstone each year.

vbrgds
Alan