John entered the family business in 1953 and remained there with the interruption of National Service which - despite requests for the RAF - was served in the Army. Funds were not available for flying lessons until the late seventies, when the business became more successful. After gaining his PPL John then developed an interest in aerobatics due to an ex RAF pilot needing company in his PUP. The farming business provided JW with a CAP 10 as perk for a while, and John entered a few competitions with moderate success. At that stage he tended to view them as fun days out, the flying itself taking a back seat to business and family pressures. Later John learned to fly helicopters, then bought a new CAP 10 in 1998 (with his Mum’s legacy) and has competed ever since - successes so far including one win and one second placing. Wixi is now retired and living with his wife and 2 children on a small farm in Essex complete, of course, with an airstrip. He hopes to keep going until the Doc says "No....."!