Back from vacation in the UK

I was born and raised in Britain's oldest colony , Newfoundland

Newfoundland

It was assumed that Gilbert would be appointed President of Munster after the dismissal of Ormond as lord lieutenant of the province in the spring of 1581. At this time Gilbert was member of parliament for Queenborough, Kent, but his attention was again drawn to North America, where he hoped to seize territory on behalf of the English crown.

The six-year exploration licence Gilbert had secured by letters patent from the crown in 1578 was on the point of expiring, when he succeeded in 1583 in raising significant sums from English Catholic investors. The investors were constrained by penal laws in their own country, and loath to go into exile in hostile parts of Europe; the prospect of American settlement appealed to them, especially as Gilbert was proposing to seize some nine million acres (36,000 km²) around the river Norumbega, to be parcelled out under his authority (although to be held ultimately by the Crown).

However, the Privy Council insisted that the investors pay recusancy fines before departing, and Catholic clergy and Spanish agents worked to dissuade them from interfering in America. Shorn of his Catholic financing, Gilbert set sail with a fleet of five vessels in June 1583. One of the vessels – Bark Raleigh, owned and commanded by Raleigh – turned back owing to lack of victuals. Gilbert's crews were made up of misfits, criminals and pirates, but in spite of the many problems caused by their lawlessness, the fleet reached Newfoundland.

On arriving at the port of St John's, Gilbert was blockaded by the fishing fleet under the organisation of the port admiral (an Englishman) on account of piracy committed against a Portuguese vessel in 1582 by one of Gilbert's commanders. Once this resistance was overcome, Gilbert waved his letters patent about and, in a formal ceremony, took possession of Newfoundland (including the lands 200 leagues to the north and south) for the English crown on 5 August 1583.[2] This involved the cutting of turf to symbolise the transfer of possession of the soil, according to the common law of England. The locals presented him with a dog, which he named Stella after the North Star. He claimed authority over the fish stations at St John's and levied tax on the fishermen from several countries who worked this rich sea near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Just home from a month in the UK. First two weeks were with a community choir touring England and Scotland. That was a great fun. Got to sing at St. Gile's in Edinburgh and at Whitby Cathedral in a joint concert with the the Dalesmen from Yorkshire

Then went to spend time with friends just NE of London near Chelmsford. While there I went to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden and lucked into seeing two Hurricanes who had stopped there in transit to somewhere else. Was standing 15 ft away when they taxied out for takeoff.

While waiting fro them to go and old gent was wheeled out from the cafe area in his wheelchair. He watched the two pilots and ground crew doing pre-flight checks etc and said to the younger man who was wheeling him......" good job this lot don't have to get up in two minutes" I have no idea if he was a veteran or just an old gent out for the day...he seemed to take it all in with a critical eye though.

I have some video but it's 42 mb and its too big to attach