Duxford Airshow, September 2012

A good airshow at Duxford on 8/9 September 2012. We went on the Saturday and were privileged to see the only Vulcan still flying.

Here's XH558 showing its bomb doors.

A Catalina amphibious flying boat

A Folland Gnat. Quite nostalgic for me as I did an apprenticeship in the factory in Hamble where the Gnat was made. The Gnat was still used by the Red Arrows in those days and we had a memorable display specially for the factory in the final year of the Gnat as the Arrows moved onto Hawks.

Another iconic historic aircraft, B17 "Sally B"

An excellent display by the Aerostars Yak-50 display team.

There are more pictures in the galleries here, including some by Karin

Illyria's HMS Pinafore

We went to see this fantastic show for the last time at Berkhamsted Castle on 1 September. It's a frantic, very funny production played with lots of life with many quick changes of costume for the actors.

Here are the members of the cast in their various guises:

Theresa Brockway as:

A sailor

Buttercup

A sister / cousin / aunt












Anna Brook-Mitchell as:

Josephine

A sister / cousin / aunt

A sailor

A mermaid












William Finkenrath as:

Captain Corcoran

A sailor












Sophie Hall/Michaels as:

Cousin Hebe

A sailor

A mermaid












David Shorter as:

Ralph Rackstraw

A shy mermaid

A sister / cousin / aunt












Edward Simpson as:

The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter KCB

A mermaid

Bob Bobstay (Boatswain's mate)

A sister / cousin / aunt











Angie Waller as:

Dick Deadeye

A sea creature

A sister / cousin / aunt











And finally (but by no means leastly)
Ben Wiles, Musical Director as:

Himself (in a silly pose)












Here's a link to some galleries with loads more photos from Greys Court, Ightham Mote and Berkhamsted Castle

And here's a link to Illyria's site so you can keep a track on what they're up to next year!