Trewothick Farm
Note: This map only gives a rough indication of where this airstrip was located. If anybody can kindly offer advice, this will be much appreciated.
TREWOTHICK FARM: Private airstrip
Operated by: Mr Leonard Collins
Location: Roughly 1nm W of Gillan and about 1nm E of Manaccan
Period of operation: Approx. 1955 to 1966 only?
NOTES: Originally the strip was in one field, (probably about 400 metres), but later a gap was made in a hedge to greatly extend the take-off and landing run available….possibly to 700 metres (?). It is probable that an Auster was used, flying down each summer from the Coventry area and possibly belonging to a flying club.
AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE
In April 2018 after making this entry, and I have no idea where this information came from, I rang an old Cornish friend up, Ralph Knowles, who used to live in the Falmouth area for many years. "Had he heard of Trewothwick Farm?" I asked. "You mean the farm run by Leonard Collins," he replied, "It's no longer there. But, I have a relation who can tell you more."
I couple of days later he rang me back to say he now had Richard sitting alongside - "Have a chat". It turned out the Richard had served an apprenticeship with the garage at Gillan, about a quarter of a mle away, and one his jobs was to mix the petrol to the correct octane and then deliver it, in cans, to the airstrip. They came down each summer, from around 1955 he agreed, and an advance party would drive down from Coventry, pitch a tent and erect a windsock. Initially only one aircraft was used, and he was offered a couple of flights in return for cheap petrol.
As Richard said, on the first flight with three on board, he was fearful that it would clear the hedge. He agreed it had a high wing so it was probably an Auster, and it belonged to a flying club. Possibly, I suspect, from the Coventry Aeroplane Club (?) who had an Auster Alpha in 1957 (probably a J/1N?), as well as two DH89A Tiger Moths. This was before the gap in the hedge was opened up. After that two aeroplanes were often at the strip. He is quite certain that the aircraft weren't engaged in joy-riding so this fits in nicely.
They stayed for about a month, presumably some swapping places along the way I assume. Farmer Collins wife ran bed & breakfast during the summer so perhaps this was when the idea of having a strip cropped up?
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