Description
Object description
British civilian employee and owner of Marshall's of Cambridge in GB, 1926-2004
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period with of Marshall of Cambridge in GB, 1909-2004: start of flying training school, 1936; RAF policy on pilot instruction; nature of scheme to train instructors; contribution of flying schools operated by Marshall's to number of pilots trained for Battle of Britain; visit by Winston Churchill, 1940; origins of company, 1909; army exercises in area, 1912; memories of William Rhodes- Moorehouse; father's activities with the company during First World War; purchase of Handley Page Bomber and hangar, c1919; first flight in seaplane at Bognor, 1919; father's first flight, 1921; family.
REEL 2 Continues: education at Cambridge University and sporting activities; attending athletic meeting in US; selection as reserve for British Olympic athletic team; train crash whilst acting as fireman on railway engine during General Strike, 1926; flying lessons, 1927-1928; obtaining first aircraft and giving first flying lessons; meeting with Sir Alan Cobham; story of wing walking during opening Cambridge Aerodrome, 1939; start of flying school, 1939; training as instructor; first pupil trained as pilot and his subsequent career.
REEL 3 Continues: courtship and marriage to his wife, 1930s; flying instructors employed by Marshall; expansion of airfield; training of Johnnie Johnston and Leonard Cheshire at the flying school; lobbying RAF to adopt the Marshall flying instructors scheme, 1939-1940; success of flying instructors scheme; start of aircraft modification and repair work; employment of Gloster Gladiator to unofficially protect airfield, 1940.
REEL 4 Continues: death of his father, 1942; contracts at end of Second World War; involvement with Air Training Corps; obtaining contract to build De Havilland Venon 1953; development of work with English Electric Canberra [Interview finishes half way through this reel].
REEL 5 Continues: establishment and development of flying school from 1929; role of school in training pilots for Battle of Britain; relations with RAF, 1939-1940; background to adoption of Marshall's flying instructors scheme by RAF, 1940; development of flying instructors scheme, 1940-1941; establishment of technical centre for Lockheed C-140 Hercules programme, 1966; role of company in conversion of aircraft to in flight refuelling for Falklands War, 1982; visit to Falkland Islands and Jordan, 1990.
REEL 6 Continues: company work on Concorde; visit to US and Canada in light aircraft; receiving knighthood, 1974; celebrations of ninetieth birthday, 4/12/2003; obtaining contract to maintain and convert Lockheed Tristar aircraft; continuing work after retirement.
