Family History Fun: Up in the Air

Aeroplanes feature in this week's prompt photograph from Sepia Saturday. Take a look att how the early days of flight were regarded in a small rural village in Earlston in the Scottish Borders.

his 1930s poster is in the collection of my local heritage group Auld Earlston. Printed in the nearby town of Galashiels, it appears to be a "shell" poster, with space to fill in the details of date and venue.

The event promised

"Famous pilots, aerobatics, stunts, looping, rolling, upside down flying, crazy flying and walking the wings at 100m.p.h. by Daredevil Draycott - the man who rides the winds" - plus passenger flights from 5 shillings a time.

"The Berwickshire News" of 28th July 1931 gave a fuller account, with the revelation that the local firm of Messrs Wm Rodger & Sons owned the plane.

"Earlston is very fortunate in being the first town in Berwickshire to witness an aeronautic display. On Monday evening a large number of Earlstonians were entertained to a succession of thrills by the advent of an aeroplane, the property of Messrs W. Rodger & Sons which gave several aerial exhibitions at a newly constructed aerodrome at Purveshaugh, Earlston. The enterprising firm is lucky to have secured the services of an skilled aviator and pilot in the person of Mr J. Hinklin of Hornchurch and late of the Royal Air Force. They have also secured the services of a competent ground engineer viz Mr. J. Hellon of the Scarborough Aero Club. The pilot gave a thrilling exhibition of flying in the presence of a crowd of nearly 400 spectators, many of whom were desirous of "getting up". Messrs Rodgers gave a couple of free flights which were greatly enjoyed and appreciated. It is understood that operations are to commence immediately".

The next week's paper of 4th August 1931 noted that

"A considerable number of spectators...visited the Purveshaugh Aerodrome , near Earlston...when about 100 persons of both sexes, mainly young people, booked flights and were taken up in Messers Rodgers aeroplane. The plane had also been in commission the previous evening when 50 passengers went up. All seemed to enjoy the novel and enthralling sensation".

What was the background to this event?
Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first powered flight on December 17th 1903.

Wright Brothers Aircraft | Glenn Research Center | NASA

The aeroplane came of age in World War One. But, despite there being hundreds of sites used by fixed-wing aircraft across the UK, most British people had never been close to an aircraft and it appears that a quite large proportion of the population still hadn't actually seen one.

Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

On 24th July 1924, local newspaper "The Southern Reporter" thought it noteworthy to write that:

"Three aeroplanes passed over the west end of Earlston about 8.30 a.m but were observed by comparatively few persons."

Following the First World War, experienced fighter pilots were eager to show off their new skills, flying into towns across the country, as well as taking paying passengers for rides. It was men like Alan Cobham who promoted air tours to raise awareness of the importance of aviation. To attract the crowds he included displays of not just aerobatics, but stunt' flying too.

Not all sections of society were in agreement with this intensive event schedule. in Berwick, the Lord's Day Observance Society objected to Commercial Air Displays and Pageants being held on a Sunday - but the council decided to take no action. on the complaint. (Reported in "The Southern Reporter": 3rd December 1931.)

"The Berwickshire News" of August 1932 reflected the interest in this new form of transport with reports:

"Considerable interest was evinced....by several Earlstonians of the younger generation, especially when one of Messrs Rodger's aeroplanes landed in a field adjacent to the local football pitch owned by Mr Alexander Brownlie, The machine which had just arrived from Blairgowrie after a successful series of flights, under the pilotage of Mr Wells, made a convenient landing preparatory to being overhauled for further service. "

An optimistic writer in "The Berwickshire News" of 9th September 1930 expressed the hope that:

"We must concern ourselves with the laying out of aerodromes. I thoroughly believe that it will not be long before every town planning scheme will include provision for aeroplane traffic."

1939 of course changed the face of air travel, as war became the focus.

Never again was Earlston to be at the forefront of the aeroplane age in the Sottish Borders.

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Onto more modern times:

My brother Chris in the 1980s had a half share in a small plane and gained his pilot’s licence. Chris flew the plane from his home on the English south coast to the small airport at the seaside resort of Blackpool in north west England for a family gathering,

Daughter at the controls!

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And if you feel like being more adventurous, - but definitely not my idea of fun - a para glider - a photograph taken from our hotel balcony near Innsbruck Austria.