I think it’s in my genes. My Mum was in the WAAF just after the war and blagged flights in a Mosquito, Lancasters and a meteor. Her Brother was in the RAF and also loved flying (The Uncle I was hoping to take to the IWM Fly-in) I read every Biggles Book ever written (I realised that is why I started smoking) later on I read just about every BoB book I could find. As a Kid I lived in Orpington near Biggin and would go to every Air show. When I was about 12 some mates and myself would walk the 10 or so miles to Biggin to sit under the approach and wave at the Pilots.
In 1978 aged 21 I was working in Chichester, had a couple of quid in my pocket and went to Goodwood for a trial lesson. That was it, I was hooked, I quit the job I had and went to work in Saudi to earn enough for lessons. Got my licence in the mid eighties but due to lack of funds (an hour then cost about the same as it does now I seem to remember) I lapsed. Started a family, did some other things but never got rid of the bug, so in 1997 I got my licence back and enjoy it as much as ever.