In 1947 the first flying meeting was held, and was a great success. This was followed in May 1949; by the first post war Air Display at Ratcliffe Aerodrome. Later that year however disaster stuck when Sir Lindsay Everard died, his Estate was sold to non-flyers, and the Club was homeless yet again. At this point Ratcliffe Aerodrome was closed never to re-open. At very short notice the Club had to find somewhere to put it's aircraft, and much research finally turned up the now abandoned Leicester East airfield which had been built during the war and served mainly as a bomber conversion base. It was built in 1942 and finally abandoned by the RAF in 1947, and there were four empty hangers there. The Club quickly obtained Air Ministry permission to store the aircraft in one of the hangers. Wing Commander Phillip Russell D.F.C., a pre-war ordinary Club flyer, was the Chairman in 1949, and he got permission for the aeroplane engines to be run regularly to keep them in good order - of course this had to be done outside, not in the hanger. Then they were taxied around a bit, and one thing led to another and very soon circuits were being flown. So gradually flying was introduced at their new base, and in 1951 a proper lease was agreed with the Air Ministry, which was promptly reduced in monetary value to allow funds for the Aero Club to repair the dilapidated main hanger and the Control Tower for use as a Clubhouse. The land for the airfield had been requisitioned from the Co-operative Wholesale Society, and was now returned to them, so they became the Clubs new landlords. The Club was flying Tiger Moths and Austers at the time, and members owned various light aircraft such as an ex RAF Miles Messenger, and a Whitney Straight, in which they flew all round Europe on business, in Rallies and on holiday. Many firms based aircraft at Stoughton to enable their businessmen to move around quickly, and they helped to create the post war boom in business. The Club trained many more pilots for civil and business aviation and for the emerging Airlines and tourism trade. In 1951 the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leicester came to visit the new facility. The new President was Lt.Col. Sir Robert Martin, who had an energetic team of instructors and management after the war to see the Club through the 1950s. The Chairman was G.G.Grainger and the new C.F.I. Arthur Coltman. |