Felix had an idea for a charity event for the Hospice where she was a patient. She had been studying Astronomy with the O.U. and came across Stephen Hawking's article about encouraging young people into Space Technology. About the same time she happened to see the uplifting movie 'October Sky' about a Rocketry Project inspired by Spudnik changing the lives of a group of students in a small mining community. Felix could see that Rocketry was a great way to encourage learning since it encompassed many disciplines like Maths, Astro-Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics as well as Art and Design. She talked it over with her husband, friends and neighbours.The area had just been badly affected by Foot and Mouth and people were depressed.The idea of Rocketry was so exciting and uplifting that everyone wanted to join in.We started with Ioniser and HyperX Ready-To-Fly rocket kits from a Barnstaple store with some motors. SWARM had started.

Felix got in touch with the original 'Rocket Boys' from 'October Sky' and was thrilled when Jimmie O'Dell Carroll agreed to be our Patron. Homer Hickam and his wife became Honorary members. They have become great friends of the club over the years. A spike sent by Homer Hickam has been made by Roy into an award which will be given each year to the person who most encourages amateur rocketry in the South-West. We now also have the O'Dell Altitude Award which is awarded annually to the person who reaches the highest from the Swarm launchsite in any given year. In 2006, O'Dell visited the Club.

A message asking for advice in the UKNewsgroup brought Steve Gibbings of EARS (above) to the club in December 2001 to teach us the basics and he also made the first HPR launch from our site with his 'PURPLE NASTY' rocket. Steve returned later with Pete Davy to make the first HYBRID launches from our site.

Jim, Adrian and Roy built the first kit rocket, the ARCAS pictured ready for its maiden launch above. It has performed consistently well ( over 30 launches and still going).

STARCHASER also replied to the request in the UKNewsgroup. In Dec 2001 Jim, Adrian and Roy together with Pete Davy of UKRA visited Steve Bennett at Starchaser. Starchaser provided kit rockets with which 'Age'; Jim and Roy could take their UKRA Level 1 certification flights in February 2002. The stunning rockets were nicknamed the three 'Archangels' - Gabriel; Michael and Raphael. Jim also passed his Level 2 in the June, 2002 as well as his RSO Interview enabling us to stage the Charity Event.

STARCHASER also gave us the mighty Giant Pteradactyl kit for our Displays which Jim built and Yvonne decorated as the Cornucopea, Horn of Plenty for the Midsummer Revels. The rocket is beautiful and awesome when launched.

STARCHASER represented British interests in the 'X' Prize competition for civilian space flight. They have always been a constant support to SWARM and paid for Felix's motor for her Level 1 which she passed with her rocket Alpha Omega below.

We visit STARCHASER each year and in 2006, O'Dell visited them with us.

Theoretically, we owe a lot to Jorgen Franck and the Danish club DARK whose reference section gave us lots of background material. We tried to emulate their excellent example by always including plenty of reference links on our own website.

Since our beginnings, we have safely put on three well-attended displays that included all sizes of rockets and many children launching. In fact, we have chalked up well-over a thousand launches from our site since the beginning. Every member wanting to take up the opportunity of Certification has not only done so but succeeded. We do projects, research and experiments- the Mayflower Project was designed to help ease members into Level 3 by attempting a team effort in Higher Power Rocketry.