Air show looking likely to go ahead (From Ledbury Reporter)

Air show looking likely to go ahead

9:00am Saturday 28th July 2012 in News By Gary Bills-Geddes

ORGANISERS of the annual Much Marcle Model Air Show are keeping their fingers crossed that the event won’t have to be cancelled in 2012, because of the wash-out summer.

Both the air show and the Much Marcle Steam Rallly, which was cancelled a few weeks ago, take place on the Rye Meadows site.

And the fields are currently still waterlogged.

But air show spokesman, Bernard Morris of the Herefordshire Model Aero Club, said he remained “optimistic”

that the show, on Saturday and Sunday, September 1 and 2, would go ahead as planned.

He said: “We hope to proceed.

The fields are waterlogged, but they are drying.

The situation is under constant review.”

But two fields used for camping and car parking during the two-day show still contain uncut hay, because it has been too damp for harvesting.

The air show is an annual crowd pleaser at the close of summer, attracting up to 5,000 people during the two days, and model aircraft enthusiasts from far and wide.

Over the past nine years, the event has raised £30,000 for various charities, including St Michael’s Hospice, Acorns Hospice and the Air Ambulance.

Some of the aircraft flown at the show are quarter sized and even larger, and a highlight of previous shows has been the recreation of a World War Two bombing raid.

Up to 80 large model aircraft are expected at this year’s show.