Kent County Cricket Ground
KENT COUNTY CRICKET GROUND: Temporary forced landing site
Note: The first picture is by Clive Elton. The second and third were obtained from Google Earth ©
Location: N of Cheriton Road, just NW of Folkestone town centre
Period of operation: 6th September 1958
NOTES: As is so often said, a picture is worth a thousand words. But in this case the words really do add so much more. This account by Clive Elton came from the highly recommended book More Tails Of The Fifties, (part of a triology), by Peter G Campbell. Published in 1998.
It should also be borne in mind that by this time Clive Elton was already an experienced RAF fighter pilot and, having left the RAF was now flying commercially for BEA (British European Airways), and, a member of the famed Tiger Club.
"Another flight to remember was in a Jackaroo, the four-seat cabin version of the Tiger Moth." (My note: Thruxton Jackaroo). "In September 1958 I flew three friends to Belgium to visit the Brussels World Exposition. My crew consisted of a fellow pilot (RAF), a navigator (RAF), and an accountant (who failed to control our finances). We flew from Croydon to Knokke de Zoute on the Belgian coast and thence by train to Brussels. Having spent nearly all our money at the exhibition and funfair, where today only the Atomium remains to be seen, (My note: Still well worth a visit), we were unable to stay at a hotel. So after playing cards with some locals in a pub until closing time, it was then time for a little sleep at the railway station before catching the first train back to de Zoute. It was therefore an early departure for our return to England, having first checked the weather and filed a flight plan."
Note: So often over the years, both checking the weather and filing a flight plan have been an utter waste of time. So very often the weather forecast was quite frankly utter rubbish, and I lost count of the occassions when our flight plan hadn't been forwarded. Both services being provided, at a certain level, as often as not to be administered by utterly incompetent people. At a local level however, I found these services, all around Europe to be really excellent.
"All went well until halfway across the Channel when low stratus cloud forced us down below 500 feet. This had not been forecast. With no radio and only a 'P' -type compass to steer by, I was relieved to eventually see the blurred coastline of what proved to be Folkestone. Our first stop was to be Lympne for customs clearance, so no problem, just follow the railway line from the harbour and it would lead us to it. As we flew over the town I noted a green open space and thought that if the worst came to the worst we could always land there. Seconds later I turned back as the cloud was meeting the rising ground ahead."
Note: I only had this happen once, trying to cross the Cherbourg peninsular in France in August, and it is not nice! Then we found a sea fog front racing across the sea to cut us off. But, flying very low, we made it back to Granville, just in time to land.
"We duly landed at the Kent County Cricket Ground at what was still a relatively early hour, and parked in front of the giant score board. Fortunately we were able to gain access to the pavilion to make some appropriate telephone calls. In due course, customs, immigration, police and the press arrived and, having satisfied all their requirements, the friendly constables drove us into town with a promise to return us to the cricket ground as soon as the weather had improved."
My note: In so many ways, so similar to our experience some forty to fifty years later!
"By early afternoon there was blue sky and warm sunshine; the police, as good as their word, drove us back to collect the Jackaroo. One problem: it was a Saturday and so not unreasonably they were playing cricket - not a county game, but the local club. Nice chaps, cricketers; after a chat with the respective captains and umpires, stumps were drawn so that we could take-off, being very careful to avoid the square. After refuelling at Lympne, it was back to Croydon to find that we were in the evening papers."
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
