The Club was founded in July 1930 and was originally called The Furness Gliding Club. Some 50 clubs were started in 1930. The Lakes Gliding Club was in there early and was considered to be the Wasserkuppe (German gliding centre) of England due to the numerous hills and their gentle slopes. The club was formally operated as The Furness Gliding Propriety Ltd. The original brass plaque (above) is hanging behind our bar. We are still the same Ltd Company but with a different trading name ----- The Lakes Gliding Club.
The history has been recorded from various documents and they have been converted to PDF format for reading. The quality is indicative of the material rather than the digital medium used. Some of the files are large even for the broadband enthusiasts. However it is now recorded for posterity and available for all. Previously this information was under lock and key in the Clubhouse. It makes good reading.
For a quick summary read the brief history of the Club, 1930 to 2005.
Brief history of the Lakes Gliding Club 1930 to 2006 (small file)
BGA National Open Class competition 1932, Kirkby Moors, Ireleth (2MB)
Frank Charles rapid gliding progress from the Kirkby Site, 1935/6
The Helm Wind Wave is studied in the lee of the Pennines, 1939
Photos and Newspaper cuttings relating to the Lakes Gliding Club from 1930 to 1964 (11MB)
Len Redshaw's Furness Gliding Club Album, photos of the Club between 1930 to 1955
Len Redshaw's Lakes Gliding Club photos between 1956 to 1970
Lakes GC News extracts from the old Sailplane and Glider magazines, 1930 to 1964 (16MB)
Cyril Redshaw's log book of the early ATC 188 Gliding School, 1944 to 1947 (2MB)
The British Gliding Association first ever handbook 1930 (6MB) Note----you will need to use your club password to open this file
Dorset Gliding Club's Year Book 1931. The first attempt at a year book in the UK (7MB) Note----you will need to use your club password to open this file