POPHAM AEROMART May bank Holiday Weekend 03.05.03

[Crescentdelta]

"Popham, lovely Popham" when it was lovely - 2020 was the first time since 1992/3 that I missed it other than a bad year with rain in the 'Norties, thanks to China Virus. Management have ruined it in recent times however by making people queue until 10.00am for the last few years instead of opening up at 7.00am, too many people just don't like it and stay away now sadly.

There has also been a problem with past fees which saw tables for Biker Weekends at only £10 each, whereas aero sellers were charged £45 for a weekend. Much aeroboot stuff has gone down over the years but its always been a great place to still sniff out some bargains and have a weekend break into the Monday - except now that has also been ruined by madly making it a one-day event, so its just not worth going that distance anymore with the weekend obviously been ruined for many.

2003 was a good year anyway as attached: Bomb sight; Helmet Mk.3A? or a 5? - over to the experts; pic showing the old 'layout' where you could just turn up and set up some lines running off the airfield before some low fencing was put up which was useful still to run tables along; bomb selecer box?; replica scale reduction of an SE.5A (I think); Russian Artificial Horizon; Marconi DF Loop; Lightning ststus panel, believed F.6; Lord Fauntleroy's Double Butler Bells; 2 Mae West's; Gun Sight Prismatic Type G1 ref no.7A/1661; Logo I designed for noted aircraft refinisher Murray Flint as applied to a restored Jaribu; one of the covered stalls with aero bric-a-brac and lots more besides; back at the bomb sight table with compasses also; one of the laid-out sellers; Rudder Pedal as later identified by its markings as from a HP Hermes aircraft, the fuselage of a BOAC survivor being on display today at Duxford Airfield.