PENHILL FARM:  Temporary aerodrome



Note:  The two maps, Google Earth © view and advert (below), were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder.




I added the Google Earth © area view.







Operated by:  British Hospitals Air Pageant

Location:  Just W of the A345, about 2.5nm N of Swindon town centre

Period of operation:  10th May 1933





Note:  This advert appeared in the North Wilts Herald, published on the 5th May 1933






ALL WAS NOT AS IT SEEMED? 

I have found other mentions that the British Hospitals Air Pageant Tour was simply a means to exploit public sentiment for supporting hospitals, cynically devised by Mr Barker and Mr McEwan King. The idea being that they could make a great deal of money for themselves (?), whilst handing over a minimal amount to the hospitals.

To support this claim, Mike Holder found this article published in The Sunderland Echo on Friday the 3rd November 1933.

                                   What We Think
                  ______________
                Air Pageants to Help Hospitals
                           ___________

"Some few months ago the British Hospitals Air Pageant visited this district and gave a display of flying which had as its principal object the assistance of Sunderland Infirmary. In the belief that we would be assisting this deserving institution we gave considerable free publicity to the project which would not have been given but for the fact that part of the proceeds was to be earmarked for a charitable purpose."

"Sunderland Infirmary received £6 9s 3d from the Air Pageant, plus £8 5s realized on tickets sent to the institution to be sold - a total of £14 14s 2d."

"We notice from a very flattering summary of the 1933 report of operations that as a result of the campaign local hospitals have benefited to the extent of £6,854 6s 10d, and the report adds that from experience gained this season the amount should be considerably increased in future years."      

"It would have been more intersting if there had been revealed in this summary of the report the proportion of cash handed over to the hospitals from displays given in 180 cities and towns witnessed by 800,000 paying spectators between April 8 and October 8, and the amount represented in tickets sent to the institutions, which might or might not have been sold."

"We think the public and the Press would appreciate a little more detailed information in order that they may be fully appraised of the effort of the campaign to which they were invited to support."

Today we can make of this pretty much what we like. Without any doubt it costs a lot of money to arrange a Tour like this, let alone make a profit. My impression is that Barker and McEwan King simply saw, very cynically, that the title of British Hospitals Air Pageant would be a big draw for the public.