Stratford-upon-Avon Recreation Ground
STRATFORD-upon-AVON RECREATION GROUND: Temporary Landing Ground
Location: Just SE of Stratford-upon-Avon town centre
Period of operation: 24th and 25th July 1912
The year 1912 is notable in our history of aviation for at least one good reason. The Daily Mail had been promoting powered aviation, and even offering large cash prizes since 1906, three years before powered aviation got underway in the U.K. And, from the start supported pioneer aviators to undertake record breaking long distance races. These were the sensation of that era and the degree of public interest was phenomenal.
Without much if any doubt, this response encouraged the Daily Mail, in 1912, to sponsor six aviators, (as pilots were called in those days), to give 'exhibitions of flying' around the U.K. Two of which, the then famous French aviator Henri Salmet, and the equally famous British aviator Claude Grahame-White, were sponsored to undertake extended tours. This was another 'First' for the Daily Mail and was received by the public with immense interest and enthusiasm. Invariably huge crowds gathered to witness these events, and, gala civic events arranged. Arguably surpassing anything ever seen before - or at least - not on this scale.
Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', has undertaken a detailed study of Salmets Tour, and the full schedule can be found in my article - "The 1912 tour by Henri Salmet".
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Note: The newspaper article, divided into two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Gloucestershire Echo on the 25th July 1912. The last item, the area view, is from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Just a small point which I noticed, is that on one of the maps, it has Stratford-on-Avon marked. Turns out that the town of Stratford-upon-Avon is in the district of Stratford-on-Avon. Apparently needless complexipication is of course a favourite pastime for many English people.
For this sector of his Tour, it appears that mostly Salmet had favourable weather. He had certainly battled against typical English summer weather already - and had more to come. Which wreaked havoc with his schedule of course. Even so, we really must admire his skills and fortitude in even attempting such a grandiose project in those days, sitting high up on his Blériot monoplane fully exposed to the elements.
Having already flown as far west in South Wales as LLANELLI, and as far west as FALMOUTH in the West Country, by this stage he was making an excursion into the southern parts of the Midlands. Getting as far as WORCESTER he headed across to STRATFORD-upon-AVON via a brief stop at EVESHAM. Subsequently he set off for GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM, CIRENCESTER and SWINDON.
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