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ACES HIGH TENTH ANNIVERSARY
The first Gallery - March 1998
In 1997 we were simply two enthusiasts with a passion for
aviation art that got together to attend a few aero jumbles. We were both
from marketing backgrounds, working for pretty big companies at the time and
after discussing what, as customers, we thought was lacking in the
marketplace we decided we should have a go ourselves – so in November 1997
Aces High was born.
To start with we did just mail order with a few aero
jumbles thrown in, working from Colin’s downstairs toilet! The first gallery
opened in March 1998, some of you may remember it - a tiny loft space in the eaves
of a derelict stable block. There were so many holes in the roof that
everywhere you looked there was daylight and there was such a gale blowing
through it was like a wind tunnel! Because we were in the roof we couldn’t
hang anything higher than three feet from the floor and customers had to get
on their knees to look at the framing... not quite the ideal setting!!
As we
were trying to keep our costs down we renovated that building ourselves and
both of us were almost knocked unconscious many times on the low beams.
After that experience we decided that the building industry wasn’t really
for us and have left it to the professionals ever since!! But it was a start
and we gradually expanded until we had the whole building. There were just
the two of us back then regularly joined by Arthur, who worked for free, and
we kept our ‘real’ jobs for the first year so we could still afford to eat!
We opened the gallery by appointment, spent every evening framing and would
exhibit anywhere that there was a gathering of more than ten people, every
weekend – sleep was in fairly short supply!
Aces High USA at Oshkosh - July 2007
The recent flood that we had at the Gallery on the
morning of an event was probably one of the hardest tests we’ve endured, but
to see customers literally helping us bail water out of the corridor and the
offers of help and kindness that we have received since, makes us realise that we
are part of a something very special. We’ve experimented with things over
the years, different signing events, launches etc and sometimes we’ve got it
right, sometimes we haven’t, but our customers have always been at the
forefront of our business, we continuously strive to give the best service
possible. The progress that we have made is down to the superb team behind
us, ably led in the UK by Caroline and all of them are committed and equally
as passionate about our industry as we are. Ultimately however we realise that it is
our loyal customers, many of whom have become firm friends that have allowed
us to keep going for the last ten years. So many of the enthusiasts that
attend our events today have been with us since those very early days at the
aero jumbles and all of our customers over the years really have been a part
of our progress.
So here we are ten years on. There have been many ups
and downs and of course as with any business, it hasn’t all been plain
sailing but we can honestly say that our passion and commitment hasn’t
waned. We feel utterly privileged to be involved with equally passionate
collectors, work alongside some great artists and we are certainly humbled
to be around the veterans; the men and women that shaped the world we live
in today - they are very special people indeed.
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| Vine Tree House - the current Gallery in Wendover |
Rick Taylor & Colin Hudson |
Our November event was a celebration of what has been achieved over the last ten years by all of us; our superb team, who are always prepared to go the extra mile and ultimately our customers. We know that we couldn’t have got this far without you and if you were able to make it to the party we hope you had a great time, but if not we hope to hear from you soon or see you at one of our many events in 2008. Either way, we certainly raised a glass to you all and you continue to have our utmost appreciation for your loyal support.
Kind regards
Colin and Rick
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