The members themselves put a lot of effort into turning the dirty and dilapidated Control Tower into a pleasant clubhouse with viewing balcony, fully licenced bar, a small kitchen, and air traffic control for the airfield.

A Festival Air Rally (Festival of Britain year), was held in 1951, the first proper event at the new field, and by 1955 Candlelit Dinners and other events were being held. A second Air Day was held in 1952.

In 1954 another crisis loomed, we read in the newspapers of that date that the Government proposed to shut down all civilian Flying Schools, which was a major calamity for aerodrome owners. Although at this time apparently Leicester was not yet an officially recognised flying school it must have been perceived as something of a threat.

In 1958 the Queen and Prince Phillip flew into Leicester East, an occasion which spurred the Leicester City Council to resurface the main runway, all three wartime runways being in full use at the time. This jolted the Club into a whole lot more tidying and refurbishment. Three of the hangers, not in use, had become derelict and were pulled down in 1960.

Things took a turn for the worse again in 1959-60 when the Ministry of Transport decided to reinstate the road, which had run across the land before the airfield was built. This they proposed to put down the main runway! They were persuaded to use the northern perimeter track instead, but demanded a payment of £2,000 for the diversion. Money which unfortunately the Club didn't have, and it went "into the red". No money was available to keep the airfield and buildings in repair after this.

By 1966 Frank Lazenby was the Chairman when the next big crisis came and the Club nearly disappeared for good.

Things seemed to be going well, Fox's Glacier Mints company had been keeping a four engined Heron aircraft in the hanger for business flights, and had only recently given up the plane when their Irish factory had closed. A twin engined Dove was still kept by another company, the Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company Ltd., which flew executives all over England and the continent. Many other businessmen kept single engined aircraft too, and the Club had Auster, Terrier, Tripacer and Cessna aircraft for training. Many privately owned aircraft were also housed at the Club.