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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0052.PDF
FLIGHT, JANUARY 15, 1932 jpphwtife TTMITMS & TAG LANE STEPS LIGHTLY Members of the London Aeroplane Club showed their contempt for all the pessimists last Saturday evening by having at Stag Lane a dance at their club. In times of stress and depression it has almost become proverbial in England to sit back and moan or grouse, but like most flying people the members of the London Aeroplane Club are more " Kruschen-like " than folk connected with older trades, and they don't take things lying down so readily. This was the first occasion we had had the pleasure of attending one of the Club's dances, and we were certainly struck with the, if we may say so, sensible gaiety of the evening. It was not the pointless abandon of the American in Paris after he had won the war, nor the irresponsible horse-play of that obsolescent section of society known as " Bright Young Things," who, by the way, have always seemed to us intolerably dull ; but it brimmed over with sheer, out and out, exuberant good spirits. If you don't believe it go and see them playing, or, we ought to say, dancing " musical chairs." You'll then soon lose any despondency you may have about the state of the country. It wasn't much of a celebrity show either, for it was mostly just the club members themselves, although several well-known personalities not directly connected with the club were seen during the evening. The " fruit " machines, of course, did good trade, and it was amusing to hear that the construction of one of them, at any rate, foiled the most persistant attentions of a burglar who got in through a window and tried all he knew to get the " Jack pot." But he had no more luck than any of the others we saw who used shillings instead of the elaborate outfit that professional " Raffles " appeared to have used. Mr. Phillip Wills obviously enjoyed himself directing operations on many occasions, especially in instituting such lotteries as the " Paul Jones," a dance which always seems to us rather like marriage, for you never know what you are going to get till you've got it—and then it's too late to alter things till the music changes! Mr. Wills has, we hear, now taken over his father's shipping business, he and his wife having just returned from a visit to Australia. Mr. Stuart King was home from Kenya, as also was Miss Homedavis, while Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Hinton found that alcohol, though harder to get over here than in their " dry " home across the Atlantic, was certainly better value. Maj. Travers and Mr. Spencer, Chief Instructor and Assistant Secretary respectively of the Club, made it their business to see that nothing flagged, and while the former organised syndicates to ensure that if " Raffles " paid another visit he would find a good full '' Jack Pot '' await ing him, the latter saw to it that the Terpischorean devotees did not lack partners. In this he was helped wholeheartedly by Mr. Tangye, the Assistant Instructor, a comparatively new member and one of the latest of the Senior Service to take up civil flying instruction upon his retirement. The new club-house lends itself well to these functions, having some three times the floor space of the old one. What was at one time the dining room is now a lounge wherein Maj. Travers chased the very retiring " Bell-Fruit- Gum," whilst the new large dining room was used for dancing. It was in here, therefore, that Mr. Harris and Mr. G. H. Craig nobly worked the drum and piano to the limit, while others reaped the benefit of their labours with some rapid footwork. The new lounge was given over to refreshments, where sandwiches (filled with every thing from " passion fruit " to " tinned dog," as we are told) could be had for the taking. Altogether it was a real good show and well worth the visit, even if we did have to wade through much mud to get there. As we took a lot of the latter away on our tyres, it should be drier on the next occasion! DROOKLANDS AERO CLUB *-* Weather conditions have been particularly bad lately, but several pupils have very satisfactorily progressed. Mr. Kristian Haldorsen has completed the tests for his "A" licence. Mr. T. R. Forrest has gone solo and Mr. Rowse is just about to do so. Mr. Pawson, a 17-year-old schoolboy, is trying to get his "A" licence during his holidays, while another member, Mr. J. G. Hayes, has brought his brother over from Ireland to learn to fly. In FLIGHT last week we published a picture of the new Brooklands club-house. We are informed that the wording may be somewhat misleading. The facts are that Mr. Graham Dawbarn, who was the architect for alterations carried out at Heston, is also the architect for this club house, but it is pointed out to us that the Brooklands Aero Club is not in any way connected with Airwork, Ltd. DLACKPOOL AND FYLDE GLIDING CLUB *-* This club has now been running over one year and has some 90 members. Mr. C. B. Harris is the Captain of the club and Mr. J. W. Whittaker the Secretary. Mr. Harris is an old hand at flying, as he was actually a pilot before the war, and flew the Daily Mail glider some six years ago in the Isle of Wight. The club is in a strong position and has that desirable factor, a preponderance of really keen members. They therefore have no difficulty about crews to launch the machines and haul them back again on every day when flying is possible. -THE TREWINNARD FLYING CLUB * This club was mentioned in FLIGHT for December 25 and is being run on the lines of a country club at Trewin- nard Manor, St. Erth. The house, which is as old as the Doomsday Book, is complete with a family ghost, secret passage and a rumour of hidden treasure. The club will be run in conjunction with a flying school and the house will include lecture rooms, dining room, sleeping accom modation, tennis courts, badminton, squash rackets, minia- 52 ture golf, bowls, billiards, facilities for clay pigeon shoot ing, a swimming pool, Turkish baths, and, in fact, everything one can want. The subscription will be £4 4s. annually and there is no entrance fee until after the official opening, which it is hoped will take place at Easter or the early summer. Those who wish for further informa tion should apply to the Hon. Secretary, Miss Carola Courtney B. Boucher, or to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. William Hornby, Trelissick, Hayle, Cornwall. IRELAND SEES IT THROUGH * Dublin is noted for the gaiety of its social events, but undoubtedly the most successful of this season was the Irish Aero Club's dance at the Royal Hibernian Hotel on New Year's Eve. Nearly 400 guests were present, and at midnight sped the parting year in the traditional manner. The success of the dance was largely due to the energetic efforts of the Dance Committee, of which Miss Doreen O'Hara was the capable secretary. The attendance included: The Lord Mayor of Dublin (Aid. A. Byrne) and Lady Mayoress ; Mr. P. McGilligan, T.D. (Minister for Industry and Commerce'! and Mrs. McGilligan ; Mr. O. Grattan Esmonde, T.D. (Chairman) ; Mr. Oliver E. Simmonds, M.P. ; Capt. J. P. Saul ; Mr. A. P. Reynolds (Hon. Secretary) and Mrs. Reynolds ; Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Elliott ; Maj. S. Dunkley ; Capt. E. G. Stewart, M.C. ; Maj. Harbord ; Capt. Bookley ; Dr. G. E. Pepper ; Mr. J. Doyle, B.Sc; Miss S. Trench ; Mr. L. J. Stanton ; Mr. S. Murphy ; Mr. A. C. Woods ; Miss M. Woods ; Mr. M. G. A. Scally ; Mr. C. F. French ; Miss Joyce ; the Misses Campbell ; Mr. St. John Kearney ; Mr. P. Grimes and Mr. E. F. MacSweeney. QANADIAN FLYING CLUBS Very satisfactory progress has, on the whole, been made by the Canadian flying clubs during the past year. An interesting summary of their activities for the period
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