Planes, Rains and Automobiles for the OS at Sleap Airfield

Combining your favourite hobbies on the same day seemed like the ideal opportunity for Grant Charlesworth-Jones (O ’91-96) to host both the Salopian Drivers Club and Bentley Drivers Club at the Shropshire Aero Club.

Grant entertained the motor enthusiasts at a VIP hospitality day at the members-only air show “SleapKosh ‘24” which saw 350 planes arriving from all over Europe to join displays and celebrate.

Some 14,000 Hurricanes were produced in WWII and only 14 are still flying – making the two plane display a very rare sight indeed. Guests were able to meet the owner and pilots of the Hurricanes and many of the other display planes as part of their invitation.

Grant and his partner Lisa, assisted by his eldest daughter Clara (EDH, IV) and her four future Salopian siblings, hosted fifty guests for a Champagne reception, sit down lunch and a hefty helping of hospitality throughout the day which was enjoyed all round.

Members of the Salopian Drivers Club including Angus Jagger (Db 1964-68) and Rupert Collis (I 1984-89) were among the guests and were joined by Thomas P (I,V) accompanying his grandfather Glyn in their Bentley Mk VI.

Building on the huge success of this year’s event the two Hurricanes and the SDC shall be returning next year on Saturday 12th July 2025.