Hold onto that image, Kabir, it might just see you through…….:D

First, I’m delighted to confirm to all XH558’s supporters that the target of £400,000 for our October Appeal was reached just in time over the weekend.

What is most significant is the sheer numbers of people who donated – many thousands – the welcome result of active promotion by our core team of supporters and valuable coverage of the Appeal by the media. The fact that the Appeal has been such a success despite the current economic conditions once again proves without doubt the magnitude of the public’s affection and support for XH558.

Earlier this year, the Trust embarked on a series of new fund-raising initiatives. With XH558’s Winter Service planned to start in January, the team now has the time to convert these initiatives into sustainable revenue streams. You can learn more about some of our initiatives here »

I’m pleased to be able to report that one of the initiatives, Merchandising, is already bringing in over £10,000 per month. Soon, we will be distributing the catalogue of new merchandise for Christmas, along with the details on new ways that people can help XH558.

In another initiative, we aim to bring those who have loyally supported XH558 in the past into more regular contact with the Trust and its plans for XH558, encouraging small but regular contributions.

Our objective is of course to guarantee that XH558 flies on next year and through the Diamond Jubilee year. This will continue to drive our efforts over the next three months to ensure that we meet our future funding needs.

In the meantime, I hope that you will join with me in thanking everyone who has made the October Appeal such an outstanding success and I very much hope that you will see your Vulcan flying next year!

With kind regards

John Sharman

Chairman of Trustees, Vulcan to the Sky Trust

What a marvellous undertaking. Living in Kent, but only for the past 8 or 9 years, the BoB always seems so close and there is a wealth of history to relive, as you discovered.

Andy – is your invitation open top all-comers? I would love to know more.
SH

Fantastic pictures!! You have joined the collection of forumites who REALLY know how to wield a lens – simply stunning.:D

Ouch! That actually hurt as I read it……:mad:

I believe the £30K figure is from yesterday morning – the total outstanding last night appears to be, from what has been said on the Trust forum, only £5k [if that].

There will be an update by all accounts by this evening.

If that is true it shows an astonishing commitment by those who have helped to bridge, what seemed to be an unbridgeable gap, at the end of September. Are we now sure that between now and the Spring there will be no more “emergency” appeals and that the funding is now in place to see the work through the Winter ready for the 2011 season?

With respect perhaps you could suggest how they should do that. I have no magic solution and neither has anyone else, I suspect. This time I was not “blackmailed” as my limited funds available for the big bird dried up after 5 years of regular donations. I am pleased that we may yet see it fly again in 2011, and with luck and a full season’s flying instead of the abbreviated 2010 season, I might find a venue where neither weather nor technical problems conspire to prevent its appearance.

Kabir – you could get good money for that ticket on ebay, couldn’t you…..?;)