Thanks for the link, HaveQuick2!
I'm glad to see that XR977 has been preserved at Cosford! I was the first of my course to solo on the Gnat and did so on 4 Mar 1975 in XR977. Just a quick 0:30 around Anglesey, then 3 circuits all of which went very smoothly.
Ironically, I was cleared solo by the QFI who had said the day before (about my Ex9): "Right, you dangerous little bugger, you can do that trip again!".
Such helpful debriefs we had in those days! I can't remember what I'd allegedly done wrong, but remember his words quite clearly! But he did the re-fly, so must have been happy the second time.