Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 10, 2007 14:08:16 GMT 12
Like being a kid in a sweet shop
By SARAH MACDONALD
Monday, 10 December 2007
IT was a revelation when a Pakuranga pilot realised his experiences in the aviation industry were worthy of a book.
Guy Clapshaw had always been spoiling to write; it was just a case of timing and inspiration.
“When I was at school I used to read all the doctor books and law books like Brothers in Law and I wondered whether I might be able to get into one of those interesting careers,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I always loved writing and I often thought how lucky they were in professions where there were lots of interesting people to write about.”
Mr Clapshaw, who hails from England, was called for duty in the Royal Air Force when he was 18. “It delighted me as they then decided to train me as a pilot and that’s what I wanted to do,” he says. “It was like saying to a kid, ‘Go into that sweet shop and eat all the sweets you like.’”
The 70-year-old describes his two years in the air force as the best in his life.
“After some time I came to realise there were some very interesting people in the aviation industry and some great stories,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I thought someone could write a book on it. I did nothing for 35 years until I was 55 and I was working in Saudi Arabia. I took an electric typewriter with me and started to write.”
After a year Mr Clapshaw had completed his first book, A Likely Story.
“It’s just about my start in aviation and some of the things from my early life growing up on a farm,” he says.
“To give an example we had a stud bull who we paid £10,000 for and then we found out he was sterile. We had old cars that would break down at the most inconvenient times.
“One fellow was in the back of a car with his girlfriend and it started rolling down the hill and they didn’t notice.”
Mr Clapshaw seems to have a limitless supply of anecdotes.
“There was meteorologist who we worked with who was an alcoholic and he used to complain that the weather didn’t agree with him. I thought that was hilarious,” he recounts.
After his time with the air force, Mr Clapshaw embarked on a long career in commercial airlines, making a move to New Zealand in 1965.
“All the aircraft I flew were fairly big ones and when you go to somewhere like Singapore you might have three days there, so the 10 crew would have dinner together,” he says.
“People would tell the most amazing stories and you would normally forget, but I wouldn’t. I’d note them down on the back of an envelope and put them in my briefcase.”
It took the isolation of being based in Saudi Arabia at age 55 for Mr Clapshaw to start the writing process.
“Because Saudi Arabia is a dry country, there’s no alcohol, the only thing to do is drink illegally and ruin your health, which some people do,” he says.
“Instead of doing that I would stay in my room and type away. I think most people thought I was drinking more than them because sometimes they would knock on my door and they’d hear me laughing to myself.”
A Likely Story is published in Scotland and is selling well in England and on Kiwi shores.
“The emphasis isn’t on humour or sadness it’s really just an overview. There’s nothing technical you wouldn’t understand. I explain things,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I’ve tried to keep it to being a good read. There’s no message. It was just two of the most amazing years of my life.”
“I’ve just been over in England for two months promoting the book because that’s where the main chance is,” he says. “It’s nice to have it sold in New Zealand and it’s doing quite well.”
Mr Clapshaw retired twice from commercial flying, first at age 55, then again at 62.
Even in retirement his love of the skies prevails and he still flies his own plane regularly.
• A Likely Story is available at Paper Plus, Whitcoulls and Dimmocks stores.
By SARAH MACDONALD
Monday, 10 December 2007
IT was a revelation when a Pakuranga pilot realised his experiences in the aviation industry were worthy of a book.
Guy Clapshaw had always been spoiling to write; it was just a case of timing and inspiration.
“When I was at school I used to read all the doctor books and law books like Brothers in Law and I wondered whether I might be able to get into one of those interesting careers,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I always loved writing and I often thought how lucky they were in professions where there were lots of interesting people to write about.”
Mr Clapshaw, who hails from England, was called for duty in the Royal Air Force when he was 18. “It delighted me as they then decided to train me as a pilot and that’s what I wanted to do,” he says. “It was like saying to a kid, ‘Go into that sweet shop and eat all the sweets you like.’”
The 70-year-old describes his two years in the air force as the best in his life.
“After some time I came to realise there were some very interesting people in the aviation industry and some great stories,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I thought someone could write a book on it. I did nothing for 35 years until I was 55 and I was working in Saudi Arabia. I took an electric typewriter with me and started to write.”
After a year Mr Clapshaw had completed his first book, A Likely Story.
“It’s just about my start in aviation and some of the things from my early life growing up on a farm,” he says.
“To give an example we had a stud bull who we paid £10,000 for and then we found out he was sterile. We had old cars that would break down at the most inconvenient times.
“One fellow was in the back of a car with his girlfriend and it started rolling down the hill and they didn’t notice.”
Mr Clapshaw seems to have a limitless supply of anecdotes.
“There was meteorologist who we worked with who was an alcoholic and he used to complain that the weather didn’t agree with him. I thought that was hilarious,” he recounts.
After his time with the air force, Mr Clapshaw embarked on a long career in commercial airlines, making a move to New Zealand in 1965.
“All the aircraft I flew were fairly big ones and when you go to somewhere like Singapore you might have three days there, so the 10 crew would have dinner together,” he says.
“People would tell the most amazing stories and you would normally forget, but I wouldn’t. I’d note them down on the back of an envelope and put them in my briefcase.”
It took the isolation of being based in Saudi Arabia at age 55 for Mr Clapshaw to start the writing process.
“Because Saudi Arabia is a dry country, there’s no alcohol, the only thing to do is drink illegally and ruin your health, which some people do,” he says.
“Instead of doing that I would stay in my room and type away. I think most people thought I was drinking more than them because sometimes they would knock on my door and they’d hear me laughing to myself.”
A Likely Story is published in Scotland and is selling well in England and on Kiwi shores.
“The emphasis isn’t on humour or sadness it’s really just an overview. There’s nothing technical you wouldn’t understand. I explain things,” says Mr Clapshaw.
“I’ve tried to keep it to being a good read. There’s no message. It was just two of the most amazing years of my life.”
“I’ve just been over in England for two months promoting the book because that’s where the main chance is,” he says. “It’s nice to have it sold in New Zealand and it’s doing quite well.”
Mr Clapshaw retired twice from commercial flying, first at age 55, then again at 62.
Even in retirement his love of the skies prevails and he still flies his own plane regularly.
• A Likely Story is available at Paper Plus, Whitcoulls and Dimmocks stores.
