Didnt have a problem geting out of Waddo either and was at home 35 miles away in about an hour!
Only problem was caused by the snowdrops trying to do traffic control and causing a problem by waving their arms at the cars leaving and creating a problem which was non existant to start with. Never mind only added about 15 mins to the journey!
(And there was airshow radio to listen to on the way out!
)
A friend of mine was a voulanteer at RIAT at both Cottesmore and Fairford for the past few years, until last year when he applied for the usual application form, they didnt send one, when called in to see if he could collect one, was told to write in, (which he did there and then handed the letter to a member of staff), again only to be ignored. Left several messages for staff to contact him but this didnt happen, even though it was explained that he needed to let his employer know a min of 2 months in advance that he would require leave . Despite many calls and letters he was completely ignored. What a wonderful way to treat some one who used their own vehicle for RIAT's benefit, (he refused to claim milage or use the 'free' petrol provided, would work 14 hrs most days for 9 days) would bend over backwards to be at the beck and call of the organisers and this was the way they treated him.
Can't post here what he thought of them. Needless to say he didn't offer his assistance this year!
RIAT have lost and will keep losing volunteers if they don't have the courtesy to say thanks for the offer of assistance but we are fully staffed this year or what ever the reason they couldnt use this guy was. They will then have to employ people to fill the volunteers posts at a cost and the obvious result will be less to charity.
Waddo beats RIAT completely in my mind anyhow, brilliant display, reasonable entry costs, not overly commercialised, good access and egress and its not 4.5 hours from home either!
