A brief history of T.V.H.G.C.

The UK's best free flying club was formed back in the mid 70's. Rick Wilson obtained permission to use a hill that looked down on the Thames and with a few fellow enthusiasts called themselves the 'Civil Service Hang Gliding Club', which later became the Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club. More sites were obtained and Combe Gibbet, now regarded as probably the best Northerly XC site in the south of England, was first negotiated around this time. As hang gliding became more popular membership grew and by the late 1970's the club boasted about 100 members. Volplane, the club newsletter started being produced on a regular basis early in the 80's and was voted by the BHGA (British Hang Gliding Association) as the best in the country. In the late 80's paragliders started appearing on the hills. Mike Hibbit could often be seen at Combe Gibbet, being ridiculed by his hang gliding buddies, as he introduced a new way of flying, which so many of his contemporaries said would never catch on. Over the years many famous names in both hang gliding and paragliding have been TVHGC members: Judy Leden MBE, World Hang Gliding and British Paragliding Champion: Tony Hughes, European Hang Gliding Champion: Hugh Miller, first World Air Games Paragliding Champion: Ken Messenger, Darren Arkwright and many others. The club now has a membership that hovers around the 270 mark and although there are far more paraglider than hang glider pilots the name remains - Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club.