Wilstead Hill
WILSTEAD HILL: Gliding site
Operated by: Bedford Gliding and Flying Club
Note: New Bedford Gliding Club (From 1932)
Location: Roughly adjacent W the A6, about 4.5nm S to SSE of Bedford town centre
Period of operation: 1930s only?
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
We have Mike Holder, a long term friend of this 'Guide', to thank for researching what is available to illustrate this listing. Despite discovering a lot of information, a few questions still remain unanswered. The main one being, just how long was this location operational? Although the majority of flying was transferred to WOOLLEY HILL in April 1931, the gliders and equipment were kept here.
It seems to me quite likely that some limited gliding would have taken place after April 1931. For example, after repairs and servicing had been carried out, to test fly a glider, making sure it was correctly rigged for flight and so on. If anybody can kindly offer advice this will be most welcome.
THE INITIAL BEGINNINGS (April 1930)
The Notice One was published in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent on the 25th April 1930.
It is often said, especially in recent decades, that an aircraft cannot fly until the weight of the attendent paperwork equals that of the aircraft itself. Perhaps it can also be claimed that for private flying clubs in the 1920s and 30s, no flying can take place until a committee has been formed?
SOME ITEMS FROM THE PRESS
The article One in two parts was published in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent on the 27th June 1930.
Article Two was published in The Sailplane on the 3rd October, followed just a week later by Article Three, in two parts.
The Short article One was published, also in The Sailplane, on the 14th November 1930, and Short article Two was published a week later on the 21st November.
HOW SOON THE PICTURE CAN CHANGE!
Article Four in two parts was published in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent on the 6th March 1931.
But, barely a month later, the club's main flying activities had been transferred to WOOLLEY HILL, about 20nm NNE of WILSTEAD HILL. It must be remembered that in the early thirties, most gliders had very poor gliding performance. So it was common practice to put these gliders onto a trailer, and transport them to a location which offered much more favourable opportunities. Especially, when given a stiff breeze, the more skilled pilots could indulge in some ridge soaring. In those days the most common form of launching a glider, nearly always down a slope of course, was by having a team of fit and strong young lads hauling on a bungee cord, (or two), and running as fast as possible. Later some clubs, including this one, got an old but still powerful car to provide launches along a flattish field.
A NEW BEGINNING IN LATE 1932
This Article Five, in three parts, was published in the Bedfordshire Times and Independent on the 9th December 1932.
What we don't know, is where that "flat field" was located. It seems probable (?) that it was along the ridge at WILSTEAD HILL, therefore fairly close to the hangar. Or indeed, how long these operations lasted?275 Here again, any advice offered is most welcome.
The local area view and area view are from my Google Earth© derived database.
NOTES: We have Mr Graham Frost, another great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for providing some initial evidence of this gliding club. Which of course Mike Holder has then picked up from to investigate. It has long been a constant source of pleasure for me, since starting this project, now over a quarter of a century ago, (in 2025), to find so many kindly people offering advice, including maps and pictures, to make this 'Guide' something a bit special and standing apart from many other very fine accounts of our aviation history. With now, in 2025, over 7000 flying sites listed in the UK.
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