early August 1961, not much over 17 years old, Sywell and Les Hilditch climbed out of the J1/N Auster and sent me off. Got baulked in the (non radio) circuit so went round again. Felt brilliant until I found that against instructions my parents had pitched up just as I went of and my Mother turned to another stude (Mike P) and said "Is he going solo, what by himself?" Soloed again later in the year (during Cuban Missile Crisis in a Mk lll at Swanton Morley.
A year later first solo in and RAF Chipmunk, a few months later ditto in a JP. Early 66 first solo in Aunty Betty's fun jet, then later that year ditto in a Canberra (Thanks Robin R). Four years ago I did it all again in a Marianne glider at Niort. That was a good feeling.