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Model flying club soars again after appeal on BBC

John Devinein March
John Devine/BBC Neil Chapman is smiling at the camera while stood outside in a grassy field, with some trees behind him. He is holding a remote control for a red-and-white model plane, which is positioned next to him on a blue stand. The open boot of a white car is to the right. Chapman is wearing a faded pink baseball cap and a dark grey polo neck top, with "Doddington Model Club" written on it.John Devine/BBC
Neil Chapman said his appeal on the BBC brought the perfect result for his members

A model aircraft flying club that was grounded when it was suddenly asked to leave its base by its landlord has found a new home, following an appeal on the BBC.

Doddington Model Club was told it would need to leave its site at RSPCA Block Fen in Cambridgeshire by the end of October, due to "evolving operational requirements".

Neil Chapman put out a plea on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and online to anyone who could help, and March businessman Kevin Burke answered the call.

He has given the group, which has been running since 2012 and has 25 members, a runway area at a recently bought 38-acre (15.4 hectare) site. Chapman said the result "could not have gone any better".

John Devine/BBC A red-and-white model aircraft, with a small propellor on the front, sits on some short grass.John Devine/BBC
The club has 25 members who meet up every Sunday morning to fly their model aircraft

Chapman said time was running out for the club after a change in circumstances at their previous base, which was on land owned by the RSPCA near Wimblington.

He said if the club could no longer find a home, many members would simply stop flying.

"Some of our members have been flying model planes since they were teenagers, 50 years ago," he said.

In mid-September he made an appeal through the BBC "and within days we had some offers for help", Chapman said.

The club has since held a special meet-up at the new site for a dry run.

"It could not have gone any better, we did some flying and our future now looks secure," he said.

"The club is more than happy to pay £500 a year to be at such a stunning venue."

John Devine/BBC Kevin Burke smiling at the camera, with the same model plane and field slightly blurred out in the background. He has short black hair that has some grey flecks in it and stubble around his face. He is wearing black glasses, an olive green hooded top and a thick gold chain around his neck.John Devine/BBC
Kevin Burke said he only purchased Fenland Country Park and Event Centre two weeks before he reached out to help the model club

Burke said he read about the group's plight on the BBC website and swooped in to help.

"I only just purchased the Fenland Country Park and Event Centre... a few weeks ago and I thought the model club would be a great asset on our land," he said.

He attended the club's first meet-up at his site and was very impressed to see the display of planes in the sky.

"I've never really been into flying planes, but I think I might be tempted to purchase one after seeing the fun members were having," he said.

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