The new Clubhouse was very luxurious, and had a permanent steward and his wife, (well loved and remembered for the hot toast and muffins she served by the open fire on cold winter evenings), hot lunches and dinners were served by white coated waiters. There was a large comfortable lounge, a separate smoke room, card games room and outdoor courts for tennis and badmington in the summer. A big separate room catered for the Air Traffic Control for the whole field, unfortunately this was a big let down because proper radio frequencies were not available for some reason, pilots had to call Heston first and put up with a telephone link from there to Leicester in all their conversations with the ground! The Club managed the field for Leicester City Council for a nominal rent of one shilling per annum for the grass field, (5p), but paid proper money for the hangerage, club house and fuel farm. The 60 foot hanger for instance cost the Club £273 per annum, leased for 30 years. Tommy Warren was joined by a young assistant, Harry (Titch) Miller, and they worked in here on the Club aircraft, Tommy earning £21 a month plus bonuses. Landing fees were 1/-, (5p) per aircraft and overnight hangerage the same, with wings folded. To have the Chance shadow bar floodlight put on specially cost an extra ten shillings,(50p). The Club moved into Braunstone in late June and held a Grand Opening and Flying Display on July 13th 1935, with the Air Minister officiating. Both Club pilots and the RAF gave lavish displays in front of huge crowds in specially erected grandstands. The RAF used Hawker Furies and Gloucester Gauntlets, both capable of over 230 mph. The Duchess of Bedford came in her own Moth and won the arrival competition, being 12 seconds after her chosen time of arrival. She had her own pilots licence and already had 200 hours in her log book. Crilly Airways flew 500 joy rides in their 8 seaters at 5/6, (26p), per person. Within the Club at this time (some of these must be privately owned but probably available to other members), were a DH 60 Moth, (G-ACBX), a Leopard Moth (G-ACSF), as well as a Moth Minor, a BA Swallow and a Hawker Tomtit. |