BMPA Members
Members > Spring 2000
From the Secretary
You're right. We have not had a Spring newsletter before because we have only had one early Summer meeting before. This year we return to Shenington, aka Edgehill, any time between Friday evening 16th June and Sunday 18th June. No booking is required, arrange your own accommodation and bring whomsoever you please to fly, glide, balloon, watch the go-kart racing and socialize - see page 2.Andrew Clymo
From the President
I am really looking forward to our meeting next month at Shenington. There is a little confusion here for pilots in that what the locals know as Shenington Airfield is called Edgehill on the half million chart. Geographically and geologically Edge Hill is a scarp that starts at Warmington Hill and finishes at Sunrising Hill. In between there are some very interesting villages; Radway, Ratley, Edgehill and Shenington. The first three are in Warickshire and Shenington itself is in North Oxfordshire.Saunderson Miller, the rector of Radway, built the Castle Tower at the top of Edgehill on the spot that King Charles raised his standard in 1745 one hundred and three years after the first battle of the civil war in 1642 (my family are reported to have been involved in the erection even though that section of my family were Quakers at the time). General Earl Douglas Haig lived in Saunderson Miller's house (Radway Manor) during W.W.I.
The surgery where I used to live and work in Warwick had been James Cook's surgery. James Cook qualified in Medicine at Cambridge and was a friend of William Harvey. Cook was Cromwell's surgeon at the battle of Edgehill and worked continuously for three days after the fighting had stopped, treating the wounded of both sides. One of his patients on whom he performed an amputation was still drawing a Royal pension at the age of 106. In 1650 James Cook bought the building and in 1670 published "The Marrow of Chirgury" which became the official naval surgeon's handbook for the next one hundred years. A copy of this book can be seen by special request at the Royal College of Surgeons (of England). However, my copy will be available at the June meeting for members' inspection.
The village of Ratley on the other side of 'Edgehill' boasts the oldest Inn in Warwickshire dating from the 11th century, and one of the largest operating tables in the country - for horses and other large quadrupeds.
Locals remember Shenington Airfield as the home to Wellington bombers during W.W.II. In the 1950s, my father persuaded the RAF to sell, and his company (Automotive Products) to buy, the site and it became a vehicle test track until the company sold it thirty years later.
Although I have driven round Shenington, I have not landed on it and am much looking forward to doing so.
John Busby