The Pavilion, Wallingford
THE PAVILION, WALLINGFORD: Private Landing Ground
Note: These three maps and Google Earth © picture were kindly sent by Mr Michael T Holder
NOTES: This entry has to be in an entirely different format from nearly all other entries in this 'Guide'. For a start I can take no credit whatsover for finding this information. All credit goes to Mike Holder when he was looking into the history of flying sites in the Wallingford area. And discovered this advert in a local newspaper, the Berks and Oxon Advertiser:
AVIATION SUPPLIES
___________
"Supplies for the following Machines :- Avro, Bull Dog Scout, Bristol Fighter, Siskin, Horsley, Vickers V, Flycatcher, Wapiti, Flying Flea, etc.
Aviation Spirit, Silver Dope, Iron Screw Pickets, etc.
Landing Ground (100 Acres), quarter mile from Wallingford Market Place
____________________
F.A. SNOW
THE PAVILION, WALLINGFORD
Phone: 144
As a general rule dealers in aircraft spares are not included in this 'Guide', but I have made a few exceptions, but clearly this had to be included as this dealer had his own Landing Ground. But where was it? The indefatigable Mike Holder set out to find out and enrolled the help of Judy Dewey - the Curator of the Wallingford Museum.
I think, looking at the maps that surely they must have the Landing Ground location pretty much spot on? As Mike points out Mr Snows estimation of the site was about half a mile out. The Pavilion has long since been demolished, but here again, between Mike and Judy, the location has been resolved.
FREDDIE SNOW
Note: Both of these items kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder
In researching this entry for the 'Guide' Mike Holder came across numerous adverts in the Berks and Oxon Advertiser, which he later compiled and forwarded to me together with, astonishingly, an old B&W picture of Mr Snow himself inspecting a skeleton in an archaeological excavation very close to his building 'The Pavilion'. As Mr Snow is part and parcel of the very reason for this listing, we both agreed that for sheer entertainment value, it had to be included.
It did make us wonder if Mr Snow could have been the inspiration for Dellboy Trotter in Fools and Horses? He certainly had his fingers in more pies than Sainsbury's generally stock! For example, his aviation links did not stop at aircraft parts, spares and sundries. He also advertised ex-RAF collapsible boats and dinghies, as well as second hand cars and old coins. Plus, he supplied lawn turf and sand and gravel, and, had a 'For Hire' concern renting out marquees, tents, tables and even grandstands!
And, if this wasn't enough, he organised dances with a live dance band and events with jazz bands. These are just a few examples, he was involved in various local societies and clubs. When, one might well wonder, did he ever find the time to sleep?
As always in this 'Guide' if anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be most welcome.
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