The Sopwith Tabloid seaplane 'replica', funded by the Kingston
Aviation Heritage Trust and built by Steve Green and Ken Gillett at
Brooklands, was the centrepiece in Canbury Gardens on September 20th at
an event to unveil a plaque commemorating 100 years of aviation in
Kingston upon Thames and to mark the 20th anniversary of the Thames
Landscape Strategy project to protect, promote and improve the
riverside environment between Hampton and Kew.
After introductory remarks by David Hassard, the
Kingston Aviation Project leader, the plaque was unveiled by Tommy
Sopwith, Sir Thomas's son, after he had given a short and entertaining
speech about his father and the Sopwith company. Also present were
Stella Pixton, daughter of Howard who flew a Tabloid to win the
Schneider Trophy in 1914, and members of the Hawker family.
The Tabloid was positioned on the slipway in front
of the Albany Boathouse where the original was launched into the
Thames for taxying trials; it later flew from the Thames downstream
near Teddington.
On the 18th September, before an invited audience, a bronze bust of Sir Thomas Sopwith was unveiled in Kingston Library. After an introduction by Chief Librarian Grace McElwee, Kingston’s Heritage Councillor, David Glasspool, spoke on the importance of the example set by Sir Thomas, engineer and entrepreneur, to today’s young people. Before cutting the red ribbon and unveiling the bust, Sir Thomas’s son, Tommy Sopwith, shared some memories of his father with the gathering.
Representing the Kingston Aviation Heritage Trust (KAHT) who funded the project, Ambrose Barber, sculptor of the bust, handed over the ownership documents to Cllr Glasspool for the Kingston Museum and Heritage Service. Sadly, Les Palmer, Chairman of the KAHT which also funded the Brooklands Tabloid ‘replica’ was unable to attend.