Fly in at Cockmarsh 1930's

The Miles Majester 1930's vintage.

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Thanks to "Jabber." bringing up the subject in an old photo that now hangs in The Bounty Public house. I do recognise the Miles Majester two seater trainer in the background. In the 1930's The Miles Aircraft Company was very busy producing these aircraft for the Royal Air Force and many of the newly formed Aero Clubs like White Waltham and Booker. It was quite common for these club aircraft to land on a big open area like Cockmarsh, and of course pull up behind "The Quarry Hotel". Which by the way burnt down in the late 1930's. Not only Cockmarsh as it was quite a regular seen in the summer for pilots to use Widbrook Common as well to practice landings and take-offs. Because of the reflected glare of your photo I can't make out the plane in the foreground. As you may have found out there were a great many aircraft companies in existence in the UK in the 1930's. But most that did not amalgamate for the war effort went into other things. After the war The Miles Aircraft Company was bought out by Handley Page, who just happened to be in Woodley Aerodrome as well. They in turn went into making the Biro Pen under license. I have mentioned this before in this Blog that in 1937. The Alan Cobbam Airshow came to Cookham Rise, where all those houses now stand and The Alfred Major playing field is located.