TUESDAY, October 1 saw members of Crediton Probus Club gather for their lunch meeting, not so much in mists and mellow fruitfulness but in torrential rain and flood warnings!

The meeting this month had little business to attend to other than to confirm the inaugural Boys day out will be on Wednesday, October 23, so watch this space; next month to see how we faired at the Norman Lockyer Observatory at Sidmouth.

After an hour of convivial discussions we tackled lunch, and along the way attended to the "regulars" i.e. the loyal toast, the raffle and the "quote".

However lunch was embellished no end when Don Nicholson pushed the boat out and treated us all to a glass of champagne to celebrate his recent Diamond Wedding anniversary... wonderful... thank you Don and of course Sheila.

The clouds at the golf club spoke of rain but our after lunch speaker, Gavin Rowden, spoke of the clouds he has viewed below 35,000 feet whilst working in the clouds.

As an airline pilot and more latterly an instructor (of pilots) he regaled us with the evolution within commercial air travel... ensuring we did not "drop off" after lunch!

Nowadays as we fly in these colossal aircraft the pilots have been rid of of the old duplicated round faced analogue dials, now replaced with something like 600 computing devices on board (did he say 600?) which provide him with vast amounts of information, all served up on a few tablet sized screens coupled with the control column now emerging as a small joystick by his left hand, requiring small and intuitive moves to ensure the aircraft continues safely towards its destiny.  The joystick positioning has freed up space in front of the pilots for a pullout tray... making mealtimes more civilised!

Gavin finally retired when his then employer, Monarch went into liquidation last year after many years flying a multitude of differing types.

He is now happy to persue his love and enthusiasm for flying in his own little Auster from a "farm strip" locally and no doubt experiencing something more akin to "real" flying. Thanks Gavin.

Til’ the next time.

Malcolm Davies.