Slightly off topic, bearing in mind this relates to an earlier era, but there is a pub in St Ives in Cambridgeshire, which dates back a good couple of centuries and was originally called The Dun Horse, but which was later renamed The Aviator.

The renaming was in honour of a young American pilot who was killed around 1918 when his biplane collided with the church spire. He had been looking for the training aerodrome at Wyton (yep, THAT Wyton) but had become lost and landed at St Ives to ask for directions. He then took off, but as he climbed away it is thought that he was partially blinded by the sun and didn’t see the spire until he hit it.

The pub sign shows a First World War biplane flying over the town of St Ives, and if you look closely at the spire, you can see that the top eight feet or so are less aged than the rest of it. I’ve heard, but have yet to go and confirm this, that part of the aeroplane’s propellor is mounted inside the church as a memorial. I’m currently researching a few bits and bobs about aviation in Cambridgeshire, and the story of The Aviator is on my list of things to delve into further; I’m unlikely to get an opportunity to go and take photos until later this month, but if anyone’s interested I’ll post them on here.

Steve
you bet I’m interested!–please post as soon as.
I’m a regular visitor to St Ives, which of the two church spires is it?
Cheers
Andy

One of my regular haunts.
In fact the building existed during the war, though not quite to the extent it does today. There is a picture on the wall of an American erk fixing his bicycle just outside the (then) front door.
To my knowledge it is one of the few pubs you can actually fly-in to and park the aircraft outside. Never done it yet.
Also they are very committed sellers of Adnams and do a stonking carvery at the weekends.
My Colt group has booked its Christmas get-together there for the second time – 12th December.
Moggy

Yes Moggy,
my one clear recollection of the place was that they served a very acceptable pint.
Hence the somewhat hazy nature of the rest of the experience!

On a further note about Pubs with aviation links. When I was kid growing up in Norfolk, a pub called The Rose and Crown in the village of Little Melton had a signed picture of Jimmy Stewart in the snug. Stewart had been based at nearby Ketteringham Hall with the 2BD. He was also at Old Buckenham too.
Sadly the Rose and Crown is no more. It’s now a horrid Beefeater-or some such. It was so small there wasn’t a bar. A punter used to shout his order through to the kitchen and the landlady delivered it on a tray in to the one room snug–very civilised.
Cheers
Andy

The Swan.

Hi all
The Swan at Lavenham in Suffolk used to have a wall covered in signatures from Eighth AF pilots and crews. These included ‘Gabby Gabreski’ and Gen Castle who won the Medal of Honour while flying a B-24 from Lavenham.
There was also a small room with a picture of the General over the fireplace.
It’s about twenty years since I was in that pub/hotel so I’m hoping it’s all still there. Can anyone confirm?
I think Lavenham is one of Moggy’s stamping grounds.
Cheers
Andy

Besides, I’m still busy with that picture of Peter in “Seven Year Itch”.

I trust you’ll post that here in all it’s glory. 🙂 🙂

Will all the donations be returned once the final nail had been put into the proverbial coffin ?????

Yeah Right!!

You’d never manage it,
M

And the worst part would be, if I stopped there’d be a moral obligation on you to stop doing it to me. Neither of us could cope!
See Ya! 😉 😉

Well Ashtonvillageuk deserves a bit of support, you load of Doubting Thomas’s.
Without people like him rushing around and getting signatures, it definately won’t happen.
I’ve got a few bob to donate to this worthy cause. Please PM me AVUK and give me the details of where to send my cheque, who to make it out to etc.
I want to be remembered as one of the founder members of the Society who defied all and……well lets just see???!!!!
Looking forward to your PM with all the pars.
HP

HP
don’t worry mate, you just make the cheque out to me.
I’ll ensure it goes to a worthy cause.
(Actually cash is even better–would you mind?)

Then in years to come as that big white bird flies overhead you’ll be able to say that ‘you gave’.
See Ya
Andy 😀 😀 😉 😉 😀 😀

Sidney Burgoine Again…

Dean
Thanks for your kind words.
They spurred me on to find this further piece of information. Looks like Sidney actually joined Sopwith’s even earlier than we thought.

“Following these successes, new orders were promised and another administrative post was created; Sidney F. Burgoine was appointed assistant works manager. He had worked for Thornycroft’s and then his brother’s business, Burgoine the boat-builders of Hampton Wick; more recently he had accompanied the Sopwith team to America in 1911. The experience of a boat-builder was now added to the staff at a time when the Bat Boat was ready for sea trials.”

Taken from Sopwith-The Man And His Aircraft. Bruce Robertson. Harleyford 1970. P.34.

I can’t find anything else at present but I’ll keep my eyes open.
Cheers
Andy