Air
Races
In 1951 the Festival of Britain air races were to be held at
Hatfield and our Hurricane, (PZ865, 'The Last of the Many') in its
royal blue and gold colours, was entered by HRH Princess Margaret.
Peter Townsend was to fly the machine and on the Friday before the
races I had the job of preparing it. After washing it down, paying
particular attention to the wings and tailplane, I then had to wax
polish everything to give the highest gloss finish possible. The day
was very hot and the work exhausting.
Margaret brought Peter down from London, dropping him off at the start
of Sutton Lane. I was instructed to go up the tower to collect his
clothes, case, umbrella and bowler hat once he had changed into flying
gear, and put everything in the Rapide which was going to Hatfield.
Climbing upstairs I was amazed to see Neville Duke with
bowler on and
swinging the umbrella, emulating 'Burlington Bertie'. I explained what
I was there for so he loaded me up, bowler on my head, case and clothes
in my arms and umbrella hooked onto one elbow.
As I turned to leave, Mr Clarke the manager of Langley,
stood at the door with a puzzled look on his face. I explained, thanked
him for holding the door and set off down the stairs. Charlie Ayers and
some fitters were waiting down below, saw what they thought was Peter
Townsend and stood by to help. When they realised they had got the
wrong Peter you can well imagine what was said.
With typical English summer weather the Saturday was low cloud and
heavy drizzle so the air racing couldn't go ahead. All that effort for
nothing!
Updated on 11Oct2009