2025 July, Dave Angus Memorial Ride to Compton Abbas Airfield
13th July 2025, the ‘David Angus Memorial Rideout’ to Compton Abbas Airfield, which was always a great favourite of David’s, and he led us there many times. Graham Parker, Marcus Hilsdon, Richard Orton, Clive Hitchen, and our newest member, Andras Tengz met at Sindlesham Court early on the 13th while it remained comfortable in the sunshine. We were in for a scorching day in the third heatwave of the summer.
We left at 9.30 am and headed towards Barkham and then Arborfield before joining the A30 just by Blackbush Airport. It seemed appropriate that it was airport to airport when David was such an aviation fan.
The A30 became our companion and friend for a lot of the journey, dipping in and out of its curves. We followed it down to Basingstoke, going through Hartney Witney, and Hook on the way. There was a short 6-mile stretch on the M3 between J6 and the A303, and the 7-minute stretch on the A303 between the M3 and the A34 junction. The rest was on normal roads, well, if you can call the A30 normal.
Halfway down, we pulled into Stockbridge High Street and found TJ Brews, a small café in a courtyard just off the high street. By then, the heat was up, and liquid was required. Andras, the trusting soul he is, left his jacket and lid on his bike, and he was pleased to see it still there when we returned. Lesson to us all!!!
In the second part, we stayed on the A30 and passed the Military Cap Badges carved in the chalk hillside at Fovant, which David always pointed out. They continue to be a great landmark.
We arrived at Compton Abbis Airfield at noon to be greeted by a very busy car park, but once parked, we made our way to the café and found a table right by the door in SHADE !!!!!! Refreshments were had before making our way back.
While at the airfield, Clive became obsessed with the metallic purple plane as it was the same shade as his bike tank.
The journey back followed the route back to the A30, where we refuelled at the Shell garage at Barford St Martin. We followed the A30 through Wilton, when we soon picked up the A360 up to Stonehenge. Marcus peeled off north towards Wiltshire while the rest of us went past Stonehenge along the A303 heading home.
All in all, a great ride in the memory of our much missed W Bro David Angus.
Graham, WM