I am sure that if we were to start a thread on the big aero clubs at AF, MB and PF we would get much the same. Maybe we should?
Laurie Macpherson was the CFI/Manager at RVAC in the 60's then went to BK for a while. Lost track of him there, but understand he was manager for some years. He did my PPL test at RVAC in 65. Back then John Bally CFI, then Bill Cambell-Hicks. John went to DCA in Bris I understand.
It was the introduction of DUI rules that killed many of the aero clubs, especially in the big smoke when many folk had some distance to drive (ie north shore) it just was not worth it. I seem to recall that my Morris Minor of the day had 'seemless' gear changes when going home for some reason!!