Recollections of Wath
Alan Cobham's Flying Circus at Broomhill
Sir Alan Cobham
These recollections are from John:-
Alan Cobham operated a 'Flying circus' which travelled the country giving air displays and joy rides to promote 'Air mindness' My mum and dad had a flight in an open cockpit biplane at one of these 'Air Days' at our local airfield. He pioneered air refuelling and the firm that bears his name is still a World leader in it.
"One of my earliest memories is of the visit of Sir Alan Cobmam's "Flying Circus" to the district. I can scarcely believe that I remember it so vividly as I was only four years old but most of the details are still as fresh as ever.
On the second weekend in July 1932 Sir Alan and his motley assortment of aircraft and several thousand spectators gathered at Broomhill. The planes flew from a field bounded by Broomhill Lane to the west, to the north by the River Dearne and to the east by the river and the LMS railway line. (The field is now dissected by the A6195.)
Remember, this was the golden age of aviation when there was little, or no, official control of flying. Cobham's biplanes treated us to daring displays of aerobatics, wing-walking* and parachuting. The latter produced a loud Ooo----Ahh----Ohhh from spectators when one of the parachutists got a bit off course and landed in the Dearne.
After these preliminary events, we were treated to the spectacle of a runaway couple; the bride in a billowing white dress and groom in top hat and tails racing across the field in a model T Ford whilst being bombarded with paper bags full of flour from the cockpits of a couple of Tiger Moths.
The high point of the day for me was going to be a flight in Alan Cobhams twin-engined passenger plane** which had about a dozen wicker seats and cost 5 shillings (25p) for a 20 minute joy ride (half price for me). At the end of the afternoon my father and I sat in the plane excitedly waiting for take-off. Alas, it was too late in the day and there were no other takers. An offer to take two of us up for 25 shillings (£1.25) had to be turned down as we didn't have enough money with us (bear in mind 50 shillings (£2.50) was a good week's wage for workman at that time).
My recent research found:-
- *The wing walking was done by the famous Michael Hearn upon a rotary-engined Avro 504K.
- **The twin-engined passenger plane was Handley Page W10 G-EBMR which ended it's days as scrap after a heavy landing at Hal Far airfield, Malta in 1933.
For more information about Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC (6 May 1894 - 21 October 1973) visit Wikipedia.
Newhill Oaks
Newhill Oaks
From John Cavill