Havering Park Farm
Note: This map only shows my guess as to the location of this site. By luck it might well be correct, but if not it won't be too far out.
HAVERING PARK FARM: Short-lived gliding site
Operated by: South Essex Aero Club
Note: In July 1931, the South Essex Aero Club and the Essex Glidng Club merged to form the Essex Aero Club. See note below - AMALGAMATED
Location: Adjacent to Lodge Lane and Collier Row
Period of operation: Possibly only from September to October 1930
NOTES: I have Alan Simpson to thank for this information. He has very kindly sent me a copy of his research.
"The Essex Chronicle, 4 July 1930 ILFORD 'A CLUB has been formed at Ilford for the promotion of gliding and soaring to be known as the South Essex Aero Club'."
"Motor Sport, September 1930 'A GLIDING SECTION has now been formed by the South Essex Aero Club. A ground has been acquired at Havering, and as soon as a machine has been obtained they will get to work. Besides the purchase of a glider, members also intend to build a second machine during the winter months. The entrance fee and annual subscription are 10s. 6d and £2 2s. respectively'."
Notes from Alan Simpson; "The South Essex Aero Club initially flew from land at Havering Park Farm, in Lodge Lane, Collier Row, but, by October, was flying from a new site at Skinners Farm, Theydon Mount." See the seperate entry - SKINNERS FARM.
He also adds this very interesting addition:
"The Sailplane and Glider, 3 October 1930 SOUTH ESSEX AERO CLUB GLIDING SECTION
'The South Essex Aero Club was formed in June, 1930, with a progressive policy embodying Gliding, Soaring and eventually Light Aeroplane flying.' My note: The use of capital letters to add emphasis was common practice in those days, and had been for a very long time. Seems like a good idea, so why was the habit dropped?
'A lecture by Mr. Gordon England, Chairman of the British Gliding Association*, aroused considerable enthusiasm in the district and the Club started off with a good membership.'
'A training glider was obtained from the R.F.D.** of Guildford and a flying ground secured at Havering.'
'Several week-end meetings have been held and good progress made by the members. Operations were abruptly terminated by a crash, the glider striking a tree on landing: fortunately the pilot escaped unhurt, but the machine was damaged.'
'However, with the spirit that makes a successful club the members immediately started repairs and gliding will be resumed this' coming week-end.' My tiny note - why the apostrophe after "this' coming week-end"?
'Members are requested to note change of flying ground. The new ground is at Skinners Farm, Theydon Mount, near Abridge.'
MORE NOTES: *Mr Gordon England was a most notable figure in the aviation scene before WW1, and it is well worth looking up his history. Almost from the start it seems, despite being heavily involved in powered flight, he was fascinated with gliders.
**R.F.D. refers to the company established by Reginald Foster Dagnall, in Guildford, Surrey, after WW1 to design and manufacture gliders as a sideline to its main business. Dagnall was it seems a keen glider pilot. Here again it is well worth looking up his history to discover a very interesting story.
AND MORE NOTES: Here again I am much indebted to Alan Simpson for this information, who found this mention in Flight, 7 November 1930:
'THE ESSEX GLIDING CLUB'
'This club, which was inaugurated in May, has put in some good training work at its present ground at Havering Park Farm, Havering-Atte-Bower, and previously at Hog's Hill, Hainult.'
'As the ground at Havering is not suitable for advanced training, the club is negotiating for a good hill at Nazeing and there is every prospect that this will be secured soon.'
'This ground offers much more scope to those members who are ready for their 'A' and 'B' tests and it is hoped that there will be quite a large number of certificates earned by the time the spring is here.'
It was also reported that members had voted for gliding to be discontinued, and that 'construction of an intermediate machine should be concentrated upon'. To this end 'an excellent workshop at Chingford' had been obtained.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Firstly, although today many writers and even historians, are prone to wax lyrical about the de Havilland DH60 Moth opening up affordable flying to 'the masses' - nothing was further from the truth. It was only a fairly rich person, or somebody with wealthy parents and/or patronage, such as Amy Johnson for example, who could afford to fly these aeroplanes.
For those of lesser means, a few very determined people could attempt to build an aeroplane from 'plans' which could be purchased. But, even so, you had to be fairly well off just to afford an engine and propeller. Even clubbing together could prove to be a step too far for many. The history of Henri Mignet's 'Flying Flea' is well worth looking into for example, a brilliant design aimed at mass production by individuals, which fell foul of most of the builders having no idea about the basic principles of how aircraft actually fly - especially regarding the critical importance of weight distribution affecting the C of G (Centre of Gravity).
The most affordable means of getting airborne for most, was to join a gliding club. And, in many if not most cases, this also involved getting stuck into to building the 'machine' or 'machines' to be used. Clubs with wealthier members could purchase a glider, such as a R.F.D. manufactured by Dagnall in Guildford, but even then it appears that invariably a club would decide to build their own 'machine' to both augment the costs involved, but also to initiate members into the complexities of designing and building an airworthy 'machine' - as aircraft were generally referred to in those days.
Nevertheless, these 'gliders' were overweight very 'draggy' types, mostly only capable of sustaining 'hops' of around 20 seconds airborne time at best, and even then in pretty much a straight line.
In Germany it was a very different story. Once the Treaty of Versailles had been signed after WW1, prohibiting the design and manufacture of powered aircraft, the one aspect the Germans concentrated on was gliding for recreational purposes. In 1920 a competition was held at Wasserkuppe with a best flight of two minutes covering 2km. By 1931,Gunter Grönholf flew 272km (169 miles).
But here in Essex, in 1930 at least, a hop lasting more than 20 seconds was something to be both celebrated and remarked upon!
AMALGAMATED
Alan Simpson makes this comment; "In July 1931 the South Essex Aero Club and the Essex Gliding Club merged to form the Essex Aero Club." And has come across this mention in Flight 31 July 1931:
'THE SOUTH ESSEX AERO CLUB has now amalgamated with the Essex Gliding Club, and will henceforth be one club, to be known as the Essex Aero Club. The club now possesses two machines, a large hangar, towing car, etc,, and a gliding ground at Havering. Being thus equipped the committee have been able to fix the fees for flying members at entrance fee 10s. 6d., annual subscription £1 1s.'
'A workshop has also been provided, and the social side will be followed at the members' wishes. The club now has four instructors, three possessing R.A.F. experience, and one, viz., Mr Wilson, who has just returned from a two months' course in Germany, where he has succeeded in obtaing his A, B. and C certificates, and has also qualified as a passenger-carrying glider pilot.'
It has not been recorded what Mr Wilson thought about the gliding scene in England compared to his experiences in Germany.
YET ANOTHER MOVE
By 1933 it appears that the Essex Aero Club had moved again, this time to BLACKACRE FARM, Theydon Bois.
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