A WINSFORD charity leader is bringing readers a new perspective on their home towns as part of an exciting new Guardian competition.

As CEO of Changing Lives in Cheshire, Gary Cliffe enables trainees to renovate unwanted furniture and electrical products before selling them at discount to those in need.

But the 51-year-old encountered his own life changing experience in the skies above CLIC’s Winsford Industrial Estate base.

“For my 40th birthday my wife bought me a trial flying lesson with John Bradbury of Cheshire Microlight Centre near Sandbach,” remembers Gary.

“After my hour in the air, I was hooked and immediately started taking lessons.”

‘Bimbling’ for an hour or so in the evening or completing a longer ‘fly out’ further afield, Gary’s hobby has given him a view of Cheshire he’s now bringing to Guardian readers.

Each month we’re challenging you to identify a Mid Cheshire landscape photographed by Gary from over 1,000 feet.

“I have taken pictures of the flashes in Winsford and it’s a beautiful sight. But I often struggle to recognise even very familiar places, as there are things on the ground that you don’t even know are there, such as a mere beyond a raised verge at the side of a road,” said Gary.

“Even though people say the country is being tarmaced over and developed too much – from the air the opposite is true.

“The countryside patchwork of fields is the overriding impression you get, with villages and towns thrown in.”

After trying general aviation flying and a fixed-wing enclosed-cockpit microlighting, Gary settled on his trusty flex-wing.

“Think hang glider with a motorbike side car hanging beneath, with an engine on the back,” he said “It flies at around 60mph but the wind can have a big impact. On a flight back from Gloucester recently I was flying at 95mph over the ground.

“I sometimes like to chase the small fluffy clouds but never fly into them.

“If I didn’t stop I could get 300 miles in one hop. However it’s much more fun landing at various places every couple of hours and catching up with flying friends.

“Quite a few of my family and friends have been up with me. They do have to be ‘close’ friends as there is not a lot of room in my aircraft. There’s no hostess service!

“The initial rush of activity on the ground as we speed over the grass field soon turns into a feeling of quiet and euphoria as Mother Earth disappears below you.

“I have had some hairy moments and yes I have bent a few bits with ‘interesting’ landings but the training and practice then takes over.

“Whoever goes up does have to realise it is not risk free, but the feeling of being up there often makes me laugh out loud at the sheer joy and freedom.”

 

IT takes around 40 hours of flying lessons costing around £4,000 to become a qualified pilot.

A ten-year-old flex-wing like Gary’s costs around £4,500, but after getting set up the costs are similar to running a small car.

Another way of getting airborne is to join a syndicate, where ownership and costs are shared.

The Cheshire Flyers Microlight Club has one of the largest memberships in the UK. Formed over 25 years ago by Flying Instructor John Bradbury, instruction is carried out at Arclid near Sandbach.

Once qualified, club members regularly fly away for a few days in small groups; often taking their wives and partners to all parts of the country, and even abroad. The Club meet once a month in Sandbach, attracting a diverse mix of members and speakers – from an ex Concorde Pilot to a paraplegic who flew un-aided from the UK to Australia.

Informal meetings are on the third Monday of the month, 8pm in a private room at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Sandbach. £2 charge on the door. To find out more about the club or to take a trial flight, contact John Bradbury at www.cheshiremicrolights.co.uk.

 

FOR the inaugural Guardian Eye in the Sky contest, we’re challenging you to name the local body of water featured in the first above photograph.

The winner will receive a £35 gift voucher to spend at CLIC, and will be picked at random from correct answers emailed to matthew.taylor@guardiangrp.co.uk

Closing date for entries has been extended to May 15.

Businesses hoping to sponsor future Eye in the Sky competitions should also get in touch at the above email address.