Hatston Farm
HATSTON FARM: Temporary aerodrome
Note: The map and local view from Google Earth © was kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder. The area view was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: North British Aviation
Location: In the NW sector of what later became RNAS HATSTON in WW2. Just NW of Kirkwall town centre and fairly close to where the access road, (to the newish Hatston Pier for cruise liners and ferries to Lerwick and Aberdeen), branches off from what is now Grainshore Road.
Period of operation: September 1931
NOTES: I have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide' to thank for this. He has unearthed evidence that; "...in September 1931 E.E. (Ted) Fresson commenced 'joy-riding' from a field belonging to Hatston Farm, just over a mile to the west of Kirkwall. There's a photo on the Orkney Library site with passengers waiting by a tent to go flying with him."
E.E. Fresson was then a director, (one of three), of North British Aviation Co. Ltd based a HOOTON PARK aerodrome in CHESHIRE, just across the River Mersey from Liverpool. Between 1929 and 1934 they operated four Avro 504Ks, (modified as three-seaters), and these were G-EBGZ, G-EBIS, G-EBSJ and G-EBXA. All four of which were being used in 1931.
Freeson sold out in late 1932 and formed Highland Airways based in Inverness. It would appear fairly clear that his joy-riding experiences in northern Scotland gave him the idea that a regional airline then had considerable potential?
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