In 1963 I was just about joining Aviation Traders at Southend, where I remained until the end of the decade. During my time there I shot thousands of pictures of resident and visiting aircraft, including numerous Austers. I managed a few rides in the Corporation’s Autocar G-AMFP, but never did get one in another well-known resident, the Rochford Hundred Flying Group’s Auster 5D G-ANHX. This despite being a friend and colleague of A J Jackson, one of the Group’s leading lights. I helped AJJ with the revision of his Putnam epic, ‘British Civil Aircraft Since 1919′, which in the process gre from two to three volumes. There are quite a number of my photos spread over the three, including several Austers. And to round off, there should be my picture of G-ANHX attached, taken at Southend c.1969’

Luckily I managed to scrounge a couple of flights in G-ANHX, one of which was piloted by Ian Jones, son of Channel boss Jack Jones. On one particular occasion in 1966, we beat up his sister’s farm just to the north of the River Crouch and one of the neighbours complained to the Ministry of Aviation.

This resulted in a court appearance at Maldon where I had to appear as a witness. Unfortunately we lost but then appealed and had to appear before the Quarter Sessions at Chelmsford Cown Court. Luckily the original verdict was over-turned and he got off.