A FEW days ago Ian Reed, the director of the Yorkshire Air Museum remarked that the museum had come quite a long way in the past 15 years and has previously stated prior to his arrival it was run by a bunch of “amateur aviation enthusiasts”.

I would like to point out a few of the achievements this bunch managed. When I joined the museum all that had happened was a few people had decided to renovate the old control tower and open it to the public on summer Sunday afternoons.

This went well and more and more people started getting involved with the result that gradually the derelict buildings were repaired and renovated.

Shortly after retirement I became involved as an active member and was impressed by the efficient way the place was run: it was not an amateur set-up.

This bunch was achieving miracles (I was merely a money collector), but other aspects of the museum were developing rapidly, not least the recreation of the Halifax bomber.

The people who did this, many of whom are sadly no longer with us, were skilled engineers.

I was proud and delighted when the late and much missed Ian Robinson awarded me a life membership for my work at the museum.

Mike Usherwood, Mendip Close, Huntington , York.