Gerard's talk will endeavour to explain why you can find today a Sopwith 1½ Strutter in a fruit and veg shed in Congalton, East Lothian!
Stranger yet is the story of how a handful of volunteer retirees built the Strutter they call "Sophie".
Despite a series of setbacks that should have ended the ambitions of their charity, the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland (APSS), these determined pensioners never gave up and on the 17th September 2024, Sophie the 1½ Strutter took to the air - and became the only full-sized flying First World War aircraft in Scotland.
How did this come about? Why a Sopwith 1½ Strutter? What is a Sopwith 1½ Strutter and why is it important? What's it got to do with East Lothian? Does it matter - and if so, what's next?
Gerard Lohan has been with APSS since 2013 and is responsible for APSS's Video Studio, Podcast Studio, 3D Studio, Training, STEM, Outreach, PR and media, fundraising and marketing.
Twenty-five years service as a lecturer in video production and media at Jewel and Esk Valley College. Commissioned by BT to manage and develop a £12m multi media training project. Award winning writer/director. Award winning playwright. Award winning developer of interactive training programmes. Helped to develop location sensitive, interactive, multi-media device for museums.
Plays cricket.