Brian Shacklock Retires

Now to the vast majority of people who know him Brian is known as “Shackers” fairly obvious really but used without exception. In fact if you called out ‘Brian’ at an event the chances are you would not get a reply just a strange look Along the lines of ‘who me’.

So who is Shackers, well for a start is probably one of the longest serving volunteers associated with AVRO Vulcan XH558, I’m not saying he started in the dark ages but it was close and yet he is not actually that old , having first come in contact with him in at RIAT 14 years ago I can say, without contradiction, that he is lovely guy, a friend to almost all, but more of that later, and constantly surprised people with his generosity.

Shackers was a valued Vulcan to the Sky Club Committee Member and ran a large number of Airshows supporting the Club and then the Trust mostly around his home region of the south of England, venturing up to Gloucestershire for the big one. So, it was that Shoreham and Dunsfold, both sadly now defunct, that were his prime focus, understandably when they are so close to home. Great shows, great company, great volunteer training grounds for the future and we had a load of laughs.

Now there is a difficulty in writing about folk who volunteer at Airshows because there is a standing rule “What happens at Airshows stays at Airshows” in other words there are stories and anecdotes that will never see the light of day. There are odd exceptions and here’s a very recent one. At Cosford Airshow this year , when it was hot, a supporter requested an umbrella but as we had run out we promised him a we would keep one back to collect at RIAT. Yes, you guessed it we forgot and so when he turned up Shackers rushed out to his car, parked behind the Marquee, grabbed his which had been used only once and promptly sold it to the supporter who was overjoyed as it was rain buckets at the time. That is the sort of guy Shackers is. We have replaced the umbrella in case you wonder.

I was going to mention my first attempt at Volunteering at RIAT in 2010. I was selling models, just like I do now. Progress? There was a volunteer who wasn’t suited to the role. After some quiet words from Shackers and in half a day he was gone, white hat, folding chair and all. Shackers can be persuasive and those of you who know the full story can have a quiet laugh, for 14 years the story lives on. So there really are two sides to Shackers but you have to dig hard. There is one aspect though that is a guaranteed trigger.

It is an Aircraft, it is an Aeroplane, it is never, ever, a Plane. A plane is something that a Joiner uses to smooth a piece of wood and it can’t fly. So back in the days of flight when a member of the public asked when was our plane due to display they would get a firm but polite lecture on the difference between a sharp bladed tool and a jet powered monster. They never seemed upset and often returned always making a point to call XH558 by her name to avoid confusion or worse.

Shackers was of course in attendance at the Final RIAT displays in 2015 and assisted considerably in keeping 30 Volunteers under control for that very special weekend. After XH558 stopped flying and the Club closed Shackers continued to play the elder statesman at Airshows that we were still attending. Now a smaller team, and with an Event Trailer as the focus unit he got promoted the official position of “Chauffeur” from hotel to event and back, 4 up and never a grumble except that his Irish dashboard companion would sometimes decide to go silent or contradict herself despite having used the same roads for many years…

To be honest there were times when one needed to take a breath and think out a solution. Like the time at Dunsfold 2012 when the relatively small Marquee was full as an exceptionally heavy squall was about to hit the event. Shackers announced that could everyone assist by hanging onto the Marquee which they did, were were one of only a few that survived, that was not the end, he then announced that as we had kept everyone dry they could be allowed to leave on making a donation ! They did and as you may read elsewhere it has been used since. This is the “Dunsfold Protocol”.

For one or two years Shackers wanted a pink oxford style shirt suitably branded and named. So much to his surprise in 2015 also at Dunsfold he was presented with his pink shirt and had to wear it over the weekend.

Finally on anecdotes in 2010, once more at Dunsfold we ran short of some items of stock on the Saturday, The Club had been holding an event at Bruntingthorpe so Shackers made a call to see if they had spare stock and if anyone was coming to Dunsfold for the Sunday. They had stock and someone was coming down in a camper van, great problem solved, Then we got a call to say that another supporter was flying down and would bring some items with him, so it was that Shackers got to meet the light aircraft and bring in a box or more of baby Corgi XH558 toys. He was a proud Dad!

So why the Volunteer Profile,

Sadly, and forgive the formality, Brian has decided to hang up his kit and retire. Some health issues have plagued him over the last 12 months or so and he has reluctantly surrendered. We will genuinely miss him.

So, from everyone at the Trust, all the Volunteers who got to know him and from those supporters who we know so well a heartfelt thank you and our sincere best wishes for your future.

Thank you Shackers from me but I do wonder how Karen will cope with you as a caddy.

Thanks mate from Manchester to Liverpool I’ll miss XH55 BSH (XH558 SH)

Bob