A dedication to Ellis Hunt

‘Old Ellis’ as he was affectionately known joined us as a novice many years ago. He had a life long ambition ‘to fly radio control models’, which he did. Although very quiet and small in stature, he had a big heart and was an absolute gentleman, always being first to pay his fees, or offer to pay for something for the club. When the club decided to obtain a hut by donation Ellis was first to step up.  He was a very keen and capable modeller, both building and flying. He and Lenny would be first down the field, fly all day and be one of the last to leave. On a number of occasions I had the honour of test flying his latest model, his building work was always exemplary. When the club had meetings at the ICI social club, Ellis and Lenny where they’re first. Discussing motorcycles or old cars. Ellis once owned a Scott 2 stroke motorcycle, in it’s day it was fast. It’s would still be fast today. The image of little Ellis blasting down the East Lancashire road on a screaming 2 stroke still makes me smile. He was a staunch and popular supporter of the club. Although, for health reasons he had not been active in the club for a number of years members would still ask how he was. In all the years I knew Ellis I can’t ever remember him swearing or shouting at anything or anyone. Including his engines!!! He was a true gentleman, and the news of his passing upset us a lot. Our sympathies go to Dorothy and his family.

Andy Grayson

A dedication to Lenny Jones

Lenny Jones was a dedicated modeler and committee member of Kirkby Moss. His passion for model building and flying lasted throughout his life. The club would like to acknowledge his contribution to model flying.

He was always keen to crack a joke. Never missed an opportunity. Unfortunately some these are unprintable :)

His son, Brian Jones, generously donated many of Len's aircraft to club members. Thus, Len's presence is always with us when we see his planes fly.

The club have decided that it would be nice to share some of the pictures of Len's aircraft on this site. More pictures will be added as soon as they come available.

Chairman's tribute to Lenny Jones.

I first met Len about 10 years ago. Old Ellis wanted to learn to fly, he searched for a club and, from the BMFA he was directed towards us. Through living next door to one of Lenny’s daughters he had met Len, who years before had been a model enthusiast, but had since left the hobby. Lenny offered Ellis a lift to look at the club. Ellis joined, and began to learn to fly. Lenny would taxi him back and forth two times a week. Ellis lived in Prescot (Remember we didn’t have the hut in those days, so if it rained you sat in your car or got wet.) Soon, with the old enthusiasm for models rekindled Lenny himself joined. “Might as well, I’m here anyway.”
If I remember right he had an old Yamamoto and a MDS 40 engine (yes, he got the one that worked, honest). He passed the club test on it and flew it for a couple of years. Anyway, that was how the club ‘found’ Lenny, he was helping someone else, which was typical of him. It wasn’t long before we ‘experienced’ his sense of humor, a rye smile, with a cheeky sparkle in his eye. That was 100% Lenny. It also wasn’t long too, before he was mucking in with the other lads. Be it mowing, or field maintenance. He was an avid flyer too. I know one year when him and Ellis must have done 700 + flights between them. His old ‘Yamie” was hardly on the ground, his MDS ran like a sowing machine. When we had our meetings in the ICI social club, he and Ellis would be there, every meeting. I remember one meeting having a very enlightening discussion on cigars.
Over the time of his membership Lenny become a hard-core member of the club. Serving on the committee for many years, doing structural inspection duties. When his son Brian joined, they built the mower trailer together, and maintained the clubs field equipment, etc.
                       Writing this now, it’s difficult to see what Lenny didn’t do for the club. He would donate equipment, including a Tx for the buddy system and a mower. He was one of the members who put up their £50 to fund the hut (we’ll see you straight on that one day Len) He would drive all over to source things for us, or pick up things. We parked the mower in his drive way for a year or two. Which every week in summer he would tow to the field and together with the other lads cut the grass. Still giving Ellis a lift.
                       He has acted as second pilot doing instructional duties. He would work on beginner’s models in the hut, to help them. He would make T. He did some ‘time keeping’ on our ‘flight’s day’ and conducted noise tests. I have even seen him doing the washing up, a skill he never passed on to Brian but that’s another story.
                       Everyone in the club knew Lenny. The chances are he structured your plane. A part from being an avid pilot he was an excellent builder. Whose sound advice was gained from many years of experience. As such he was a knowledgeable all round modeler. He enjoyed his club. He enjoyed his flying. It is going to be impossible to replace him. I’m glad he gave Ellis that lift all those years ago, I’m proud to have known him, and to call him a friend 

There’s a little empty space on the bench in the club hut now, and somehow there’s a little empty space in every member of the club. I know there is with me. I’ll miss his tall stories, and yes, his rye sense of humor. But above all I’ll miss that little cheeky sparkle he had in his eyes.

Our sincere, deepest sympathies go to Brian and the family.

Happy Landings Len.

Andy Grayson
Chairman, KMMFC.

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