LINCS WINGS Wing Ding 2015

Early May Bank Holiday at the Wyberton Sports Club near Boston, was the scene for the first WING DING of the 2015 season. Lincs Wings had decided to return to the same Sports Club facilities we used last year as they provided a big flat camping ground, nice clean toilets and showers and a great Club House for meals and entertainment. Inscriptions opened at 10.00am on the Friday with people already queuing to get their names down. Jayne, did here usual bang up job of manning the inscription desk, helped out by other LINCS Wingers as the days progressed. The weather on Friday was perfect for the trip to Wyberton with clear sunny skies and low winds. This meant that everyone arrived and pitched their tent/caravan and Mobile Homes without problems. After a tasty meal, the Friday evening entertainment was a Singer, Mike Starrs, and a music quiz and raffle.

Friday night was a real 'Brass Monkey' night with temperatures dropping (but not freezing), so we were all grateful that the morning was sunny and calm. A nice cooked breakfast set us up ready to assemble at 10.30 for the Ride-out at 11.00. The Ride-out was led by Ian and with Larry acting as 'Tail End Charlie' to pick up any lost souls along the way. However, with 29 bikes and trikes in the group, we did remarkably well in keeping ourselves together.

The ride took us 32 miles through some nice Lincolnshire countryside with long flat roads and we wound our way from Wyberton up near Sleaford, South and North Kyme, Billinghay, Tattershall, Coningsby and then on to the Air Museum at East Kirkby. The Air Museum was holding it annual Classic Bike Rally, so as our Goldwings swept into the front entrance we were marshalled around and into the Museum and parked up on one of the concrete dispersals. We lined the dispersal on both sides and soon made a hit with the visitors. In fact the whole Museum was crammed with bikes of all sizes and ages so it was a pleasure to just walk around and see what was parked up. Many people came to ask us about our Goldwings with more than a few envious looks. but they all enjoyed the experience. During the day, we indulged in 'Char and Wads' from the NAAFI wagon, toured the Museum exhibits, and watched as the Lancaster Bomber 'Just Jane' had her 4 massive engines wound up to a thundering roar to carry out a taxi run with paying customers on-board. The local Model Aircraft Club were also out in force flying their Large Scale model aircraft which looked impressive and totally realistic from the ground. So we had the chance to watch a great flying display whilst walking round the vendors' tents to see what would catch the eye.

Whilst the main group stayed at the Museum until 15.30 for the return trip, again led by Ian, a smaller group of us decided to slip off early and on our return journey we called in at the Bubble Car Museum at Langrick, near Boston. The Bubble Car Museum offers a nice little cafe with camping facilities and of course offers visitors the chance to view a large collection of vintage bubble cars, which have been restored to beautiful conditions.

Saturday evening's entertainment back at the Sports Club was provided by the resident DJ, Ben, and with Sandy handing out prizes for Further Travelled and Best Bike and Trike.
The cash raffle raised £300.00, half of the money going to the raffle winner and the other half going to the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance fund.
The lucky winners, Mick and Helen from Yorkshire were very happy to receive their prize money. Here are the winners receiving their awards.

Best Bike: Mick George
Best Trike: Sean Stanhope
Furthest travelled Bike: Ken Turner
Furthest travelled Trike: Chris Easter
Raffle winners: Mick and Helen
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The remainder of the evening was taken up with talking, dancing and just enjoying ourselves.

Sunday morning greeted us with rain and a soggy campsite, but as the morning wore on the skies lightened, the rain stopped and many took the opportunity to venture out into the Lincolnshire countryside to see old friends and to visit attractions.

On Sunday afternoon, and despite the overcast conditions, Wing Dingers were treated to a fabulous sight with a flypast of a
Supermarine Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
The Spitfire pilot gave us 3 good low passes and ended with a wing waggle before heading home for tea and medals.

Sunday night's entertainment started with another quiz by Sandy and Jayne, stretching our memory muscles to recall details of TV Series both old and new.
This was followed by live music from a local duo band 'The Disclaimers' one of whom was your very own Stephen from Lincs Wings.
The band provided a steady mix of songs both old and new which soon had people dancing and singing along.
They provided a night of free entertainment asking only for donations towards the Servicemen's Charity 'Help for Heroes'
The kind donations from the audience added further to their charity pot that evening.

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The night ended with a few well chosen words of thanks from our Chairman Tim Brooks and then Derek Hendry took the microphone to organise a competition to raise even more money for charity. A donated bottle of rum was placed out on the dance floor for contestants to slide coins towards. The coin nearest the bottle wins it. The game went on for around 30 minutes with many contestants battling for the prize and raising a jar full of coins, recovered from the dance floor, which was then donated to the Air Ambulance fund. Well played Derek !

Monday morning sprang warm and inviting with nice dry ground that allowed everyone to pack up their tents and belonging for the trek home (or the next WING DING). The Lincs Wings WING DING was without doubt a great success this year with over 75 inscriptions and visitors travelling from far and wide to take part in the first of the season. Our thanks go to Sandy and Jayne who did the bulk of the organisation and administration and to all those who helped to make the weekend go well.

Finally, here's is a picture of Sandy presenting a cheque for £238.50, raised during the Wing Ding Ride-out, for the
East Kirkby Aviation Heritage Museum

Attending Regions were as follows:
YORKSHIRE 16. NO REGION 11. LINCOLNSHIRE 9. TRENT 6. SOUTH WALES 5.
BORDER 5. CAPITAL 5. NORFOLK 3.
WHITE HORSE, KENT, BROADLANDS, TUDOR ROSE, SUSSEX,
LANCS & LAKES, SHROPSHIRE all had 2.
DEVON&CORNWALL and ESSEX 1 inscription each.

Total INSCRIPTIONS 76.

Total GWOC GB members 112. Non-member 1, Day visitors 7.

Now lets start planning for next year's Wing Ding
which will take place between 6 - 8 May 2016 !!!

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