In 1951 I decided to try to obtain a Private Pilots Licence and commenced training on a DH Tiger Moth.(A very basic aircraft, no brakes,a skid for a tailwheel, no radio and only the most basic instruments).

I obtained the licence in November of that year,then later got a Twin rating on a Miles Gemini (limited to 12500lbs all up weight).As the Instructor who had taught me was retiring, he offered me the chance of buying the Tiger Moth (G-AHND) for £250.!! As my intention was to obtain a Commercial Pilots Licence eventually, this seemed a good way of building up some cheap flying hours to the amount required for the Commercial Licence.

There was one incident I remember vividly, shortly after getting my PPL.(Private Pilots Licence). I decided I would try going across the Channel to Le Touquet, in France. It was one of those "golden days",where you could`nt see either the Sea or the sky(no Artificial Horizon either),although I kept glancing over my shoulders to glimpse the White Cliffs of Dover, but they soon disappeared and I soon began to feel the odd "G" forces on my sides. With no Artificial Horizon and only Turn and slip,Altimeter,and Airspeed instruments, I realized that I was in a peculiar attitude in the sky and would have to do something pretty quickly.

Fortunately I remembered something my instructor had said once, "If you ever get stuck and don`t know which way up you are, look at the Turn and Slip meter and use your hands on the bottom needle and your feet on the top".!!. Well, I dont know if that was the right way, but I did it and managed to keep on a even keel until the French coast thankfully came in sight. It sure taught me a lesson to make sure that there was good visibility and a horizon before going across the Channel again!.

Although I flew the Tiger Moth quite a lot locally and to Ostend,(Belgium), and Le Touquet,(France), I never managed to get enough flying hours in, plus, our company had now obtained a Trooping Contract using the Handley Page Hermes aircraft to transport troops to various bases around the world like Hong Kong, Aden, Singapore and Nairobi.etc. As I was quite busy on these trooping flights I had to give up the Tiger Moth and sold it to Ramsgate Flying Club for £150.!! (If only I could have kept it, It would now be worth many thousands of pounds).