The Butts
THE BUTTS: Temporary Landing Ground
Operated by: Mr Sydney Pickles
Location: S of the A525, roughly 1.25nm SW of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre. We do not know exactly which field Mr Pickles used? Probably not on The Butts area itself? Perhaps on either the field to the west, or more likely (?), the field just to the ESE of Butts Cottages?
Period of operation: Not entirely certain, but, looking at the items in the press, (see below), probably from the 20th to the 26th April 1913
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for both discovering this venue and providing the items below.
The Notice was published in the Staffordshire Sentinel on the 15th April 1913.
The short article was published in the Staffordshire Sentinel on the 25th April 1913. The article in two parts was published in Flight magazine on the 3rd May 1913.
The advert was published in the Staffordshire Sentinel also on the 25th April 1913. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: When the first 'Aerial Derby' events were held in 1910, (see BLACKPOOL and DONCASTER), the field was roughly equal between British and French aviators. Samuel Cody, then American being a notable exception. By 1913 the French aviators had pretty much lost interest, with Henri Salmet, by then very famous in the U.K., conducting his two astonishing Tours sponsorsed by the Daily Mail in 1912 and 1913.
So, finding that Sydney Pickles was Australian is quite a revelation. He came to the U.K. in 1912 to learn to fly and gained his Royal Aero Club certificate, No.263, on the 30th July that same year.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
