FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0481.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 22, 1931 Skumte 3Ufuuj[ V (Hub Hem READING Washed Out but not a "Wash Out" 'HE weather is such ahackneyed topic of con- versation that it ill be-hoves us to start our article with it, but the meeting atReading was so successfully carried through in spite of badweather that we must be forgiven if we do so on this occasion. Itrained the whole day through, and people had to huddle intothe hangars, the club-house verandah, and the tea tents, infact, into every available space where they could get a roof overtheir heads. In spite of this, however, theafternoon brought with it aircraft in amazing numbers, and at onetime there were nearly sixty lined up before the club-house. Manyof these were genuine private owners, and, together with therepresentatives of the trade, they made a most imposing show. There were examples of manytypes, starting with the Westland- Wessex (three 7-cylinder Genets); and progressing downwards with the old Fokker (Jarge asit is now affectionately known, due to its registration letters G-AARG), which Messrs. Steed, Bishop, Makgill boughtfor £35 ; Puss Moths ; Avians ; Moths ; Klemms ; a Fiat ; the Redwing ; an Autogiro ; a Bluebird ; and an ancientWestland Woodpigeon. Lord Northesk was present with Lady Northesk, and inhis capacity as President of the Club he made a formal speech of welcome to Colonel and Mrs. Shelmerdine, whocame over in a Puss Moth, and asked the former to open the Club. This Col. Shelmerdine did with a gold key,after expressing the hope that the Club's future would be of the best. Lord Northesk also presented both Coloneland Mrs. Shelmerdine with membership cards, and asked them to accept membership of the Club. Councillor Sainsbury, who spoke a few well-chosen wordsof welcome, is the Mayor of Reading, and has set an excel- lent example to other local dignitaries by becoming amember. The chief event of the afternoon was a race for ladies,rtns was divided into heats with Miss Aitken, Miss Cross- ley and Miss Amy Johnson in the first, and Miss Burr, THE OPENING CEREMONY: Lord Northesk making his speech before handing the key to Col. Shelmerdine, who is on the extreme right. Miss Gower, Miss Giles, Mrs. Young, Miss Slade, and MissSpooner in the second. The winner of the first heat was Miss Amy Johnson, with Miss Aitken second, and of thesecond heat Miss Burr, followed by Miss Gower. These four then took part in the final, which was a victory forMiss Aitken, with Miss Gower second, Miss Johnson third, and Miss Burr fourth. Capt. Dancy, that king of handi-cappers, was once again to be seen, complete with stop watch, red flag, and gum boots, and his work augured wellfor future races this year. Only a few seconds separated the . winners in each heat, although the speeds of themachines varied widely, and the final was a masterpiece of handicapping, only ten seconds covering those racing. Miss EurrMiss Gower . . Miss Aitken . .Miss Johnson The course was a triangular one around Wokingham Church and Twyford Station, the heats being one and the final two laps, the latter being about 20 miles. Start. 0 2 2 2 00 28 42 55 Finish. 14 14 14 14 54 45 44 52 Speed. 79 95 £ 97A 98* Place. 42 1 3 , SOME OF THE COMPETITORS (L. to R.) : Miss Amy Johnson, Miss P. Gower, Miss Spicer, Miss Burr, Miss Slade, Miss Winifred Spooner, and Miss Crossley. 451 * -
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
