Members of the Southdown Gliding Club in Pulborough were pleased to welcome Andrew Griffith MP on Saturday evening (31st July) when he formally opened their new classroom facility at the Club.
The new classroom - funded with a grant from Sport England, but mainly through club funds - is dedicated to the memory of former British Gliding Club Chairman, Club President, and long term member of the Southdown Gliding Club, Richard ‘Dick’ Dixon who passed away in May.
Southdown Gliding Club is one of the oldest gliding facilities in the UK based at its own airfield at Parham, near Pulborough. It is an all-voluntary club and an accredited Junior Gliding Centre.
Andrew cut the ribbon to formally open the new single-storey extension, before presenting the Club’s annual flying awards for 2020.
Craig Lowrie, Chairman of the Southdown Gliding Club, said:
"It was wonderful to have Andrew open our new facility and now be in a position where we can train our new instructors at home to accelerate the ability to pass their gliding skills onto new members.”
Andrew said:
"At a difficult time for aviation, it is wonderful to see the Southdown Gliding Club going from strength to strength and introducing new generations to the sport. I congratulate all involved.”
ENDS
