Club History

The "Flyers" was founded by Neil Harvey and the late Ron Gunter back in 1987, and soon grew to a club of high repute, with a membership now approaching 200 strong.

We build and Fly all forms and shapes of kites for the enjoyment and fun for all the family, be they 5 or 105!! With a quarterly news magazine containing quizzes, information, plans, etc. and all members are automatically covered at events by a £10,000,000 public liability insurance.

Members hold Kite Workshops, Demonstrations, Teddy Bear Parachute Drops, Etc. at Fete's, School's and Events within our area for all to benefit from members skills.The Club also organise the Annual International Kite Festival at Swindon (This year (08) At Lydiard Park) on the weekend after the May Day Bank Holiday. Lots to do and see at this event, very popular with the locals with some 5,000 in attendance!

No Geographical area is defined for the coverage of the club, but we have members come from London in the East, Cardiff to the West, Brighton, Portsmouth, Gloucester and Banbury; we even have members across the world in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and Strong links with the Westport Windriders in Washington State, America.

The main attraction is our regular all-day Kite Fly-in at Barbury Castle (near Wroughton, Swindon), which is on the second Sunday of each month. A location that has the necessary facilities for us to stay all day.

Unofficially, and a little more up to date!

WHKF is best known as a "Single Line" club because of the selection of large parafoil and flowform kites the club displays throughout the country, some of which are the largest in Great Britain. We just like setting records!

But don't think it ends there, this is the home of the "Ted Berets", Arthur Dibble's parachuting fauna! but he is not alone, there are now 5 or 6 club members into this activity. Including that old codger 'himself, BoF. And the Class One Parachuting Teddy Bear record holder, with 99 Teddy Bears parachuting in one go, Vic Walker.

Sports kites do hold their own in the club, Home of team "Matrix Management" who were one of the top ten teams of the World Championships in the past few years, as well as Pair "Gemini", STACK UK Experienced Class Champions in 2003. In fact we're often up the hill Pair and Team flying practice, fancy having a go? then come and join in, you are very welcome.

The low point,("High Point" said one person !!!) as is, is the fact that we cannot support Buggying, due to the fact that it is banned at Barbury Castle by the local council (Shame). But we try and make up by letting the British Power Kitesports Association (formerly British Buggy Club) have good access to the airfield at our Festival in May, where they hope to run their National Speed Trials to set a World Record. Unfortunately in 2008 because we are at Lydiard Park they will not be permitted.

A newer development by the club has been the kite building workshops for kite flyers that have been run over the last few years thanks to Dave Robinson, very popular and varying subjects have been run, something on the lines of the famous Fort Warden Retreats held in America, and hopefully to expand in the future, We usually run one in February and October.

A recent development is the new national British Kite Flying Association (BKFA), to which the WHKF are founder members, the aim of this organisation is to promote and support kite flying throughout the country and to assist the local clubs, like ours, with technical, logistical and legal knowledge. We feel it is important in this day and age that a national representative body is available for our sport and hobby.

The Club has now also become the only British club to be affiliated to The AKA, the American kiting organisation with world wide membership and in 2007 were awarded the Kite Club of Year.

So there you have it, not just a club, more a way of life!