http://www.vintageaircraftclub.org.uk> Chairman
Vintage Aircraft Club Chairman
Anne Hughes
At the AGM on 14th October 2017, Anne Hughes was confirmed as our new Chairman, with Peter Wright standing down to take the position of Club Treasurer.
Anne in the front seat of a Piper Cub.
Copyright Malcolm Clarke 2015
Like many involved in aviation, Anne's first remembered encounter with aircraft was at the age three when she first saw her late uncle's collection of model aircraft hanging from the ceiling of his room. A trip to Farnborough Air Show a few year's later and the bug bit! However, it wasn't until much later she had her first flight ever - in a Beagle Pup!
A year later and now proudly wearing her wings, Anne flew Cherokees and Cessnas and many hours in the Pup. Sadly lack of finances meant a break with aviation and Anne focused on her teaching career, mainly teaching children with educational needs, working with the Youth Hostel Association and as field officer for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Later on, an opportunity to join the committee of the Beagle Pup and Bulldog Committee and a volunteer role in research at Duxford set the scene for opportunities as an aviation researcher, writer, editor and a "putter on" of aviation events.
Somehow Anne found herself in the role of Events Coordinator for the VAC and took every opportunity to take a front seat in a J3 Cub, back seat in the Chipmunk and other seats that made themselves available! At this time she was involved in the Beagle Pup Prototype project with the aim of getting the Pup back to being airworthy after nearly 50 years in hangars and sheds! Getting to know the VAC aircraft and their owners opened up a much wider field of interest and it wasn't long before she was to be found on a fabricing course dreaming of building an aircraft!
Anne says "It is a real privilege and an honour to be elected as the first lady chairman of the VAC. I feel passionately about aircraft and also that opportunities for girls and women in every aspect of aviation should be the norm. I also feel that we should aim to encourage a "family and friends" feel for the club and enjoy the "Team VAC" opportunities we have at Bicester and Sywell. It's an amazing club with a talented and enthusiastic membership and a dedicated committee. It's a pleasure and privilege to be up on the flight deck!"
