In answer to your questions on £4/flight, I fly with the Cotswold GC @ Aston Down. I am part of the Univeristy GC that operates with them and we have an agreement to charge £4/flight (£3 to Cotswold GC) (winch by the way in case anyone was getting excited!!) Soaring fees are 25p/min after 10 mins. and we charge the students £12/year to join.
As many of you have said - gliding teaches you fantastic manual flying skills and I love it to bits! In fact I have just got back from a days flying - the first thermals I have felt since Sept.!!
Roll on summer
