Young Jonathan is flying high

Glider pilot Jonathan Power, aged 14, from Malmesbury

3:38pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

A MALMESBURY teenager has become almost the youngest person in the country to fly a glider solo – three years before he can even take a car on the road. Jonathan Power was only stopped from making the flight on his 14th birthday by 30 knot winds. Just two days later at Cotswold Gliding Club on May bank holiday he finally made it. The air cadet, whose dad Chris is also a glider pilot, had not expected to go solo until next 2015. But earlier this year the minimum age was dropped from 16.The flight puts him joint second youngest in the UK and the youngest in the south west. “I am really happy. Going solo is a big step for me,” said Malmesbury School pupil Jonathan who had completed more than 100 accompanied flights. “The experience was fantastic and the instructors have all been really helpful and supportive. I now can't wait to extend my flying further, into the different areas of gliding such as cross country flying and aerobatics." Dad Chris said:  “Jonathan has a lot of experience and he did brilliantly on his first solo flight. I was very confident in him so I wasn’t too worried when I saw him go up by himself.” Both he and Jonathan have type one diabetes, but it has not stopped them flying. “We both know how important it is to manage our condition well and receive the right care. Before a glider flight we will test our blood glucose levels, and take glucose tablets with us just as I would before driving,” he explained. Jonathan has been flying since 2011 and spent hours practising techniques for stalls, spins, launch failure and thermalling until the club’s chief instructor Mike Weston was happy for him to make the flight on his own. Mum Kim said: “Jonathan loves gliding because of the feeling of freedom and exhilaration. We are very proud of him". Two other young members at the gliding club, Max Lazenby and Emil Benson, both 16, have been awarded bursaries by the Royal Aero Club to expand their flying including aerobatics and cross country flying.

Wiltshire GP jailed for sex offences against patients

3:12pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

A WILTSHIRE GP who sexually assaulted female patients as young as 14 and used a hidden camera in his watch to film them during intimate examinations has been jailed for 12 years.

Malmesbury mayoral row over shooting comment rumbles on

12:00pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

A BUSINESSMAN who claims his premises is blighted by boy racers has defended the Malmesbury mayor-elect who said he felt like shooting the town’s police sergeant.

Malmesbury Michelangelo's Sydstine Chapel

Luke with his Stencil Shed

8:20am Thursday 23rd May 2013

MALMESBURY’S own Michaelangelo, Luke Hollingworth is preparing to start on a final flourish of artwork that he hope will clinch a national shed of the year title.

UPDATE: Names released of the two young women killed on A419 outside Swindon

12:46pm Sunday 19th May 2013

THE two young women killed in a car crash on the A419 outside Swindon in the early hours of yesterday morning have been named by police.

Thieves take £11,000 of equipment from Latton storage unit

12:00pm Sunday 19th May 2013

THIEVES got away with £11,000 of equipment after breaking into three storage units in Latton, near Cricklade, last week.

Appeal to trace missing Wiltshire man

9:30am Friday 17th May 2013

AN APPEAL has been made to trace a 70-year-old Wiltshire man who has not been seen since last night.

Wiltshire Council chooses cabinet

10:00am Thursday 16th May 2013

JANE Scott has been chosen to lead Wiltshire Council for a second time following the unitary authority’s first full meeting since the local elections.

Malmesbury mayor-making abandoned after councillor shoots his mouth off

7:00am Thursday 16th May 2013

MALMESBURY’S traditional mayoral hand over was abandoned this week after an official complaint was lodged by Wiltshire Police against the mayor-elect Martyn Snell.

Dyson helps cancer care centre appeal reach target with £4 million donation

1:29pm Wednesday 15th May 2013

ENTREPRENEUR James Dyson has handed over £4 million to help fund the development of a pioneering new cancer unit at bath Royal United Hospital.

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