Winifred Spooner
Encyclopedia
Winifred Evelyn Spooner (September 1900 – 13 January 1933) was an English aviatrix of the 1920s and 1930s, and the winner of the Harmon Trophy
as the world's outstanding aviatrix of 1929. She died aged 33 from pneumonia.
Winifred Spooner was born in Woolwich in Kent. She attended Sherborne Girls
in Dorset.
She received a pilot's licence No. 8137 from London Aeroplane Club in September 1927, and then she became active competitor in sports aviation. She became only the 16th woman to receive a licence.
Winifred’s brothers, Tony and Frank, had leased some farmland and stables near Folly Court in Wokingham where they schooled and sold polo-ponies, hunters and steeplechasers. They called their enterprise The Polo Farm. During the First World War Frank had served as a cavalry officer in India, and from 1917 to 1918, had been the head of the equestrian school. Fortunately there was a field on the farm big enough upon which to land a light aircraft so Winifred built a wooden hangar and moved her Moth from Stag Lane. During this period Winifred, Hugh and Frank resided at No. 4, South Drive in Wokingham. Winifred continued her Air-Taxi Service, charging £4 an hour or one shilling a mile, covering Britain and France, and gave flying lessons. She also purchased a car. Wokingham locals recall her being one of the first woman drivers in the area. Some time later she moved to Scott’s Farm near Bearwood.
In July 1928 she took the 3rd place in the seventh King's Cup Race
and won the Siddeley Trophy as the first Aeroplane Club aviator to cross the line (flying DH.60 Cirrus I Moth).
In 1929 she finished fifth in the King's Cup Race, and won the Harmon Trophy
as the world's outstanding aviatrix. She also took 10th place in the International Tourist Plane Contests Challenge.
In 1930 she was a member of the British team at the International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930
between 16 July and 8 August in Berlin
, Germany
, finishing the rally seventh overall in her De Havilland Gipsy Moth. She completed the whole contest on a high 4th position. In late August of the same year she was fourth in the handicapped race Giro Aereo d'Italia in Italy.
On 5 December 1930, accompanied by Captain Edwards, she set out to prove that South Africa
could be reached within 5 days by flying day and night. Unfortunately after 16 hours while Captain Edwards was flying the aircraft and Winifred was asleep, the plane crashed into the sea off the coast of Belmonte Calabro in complete darkness. Captain Edwards could not give a reason for the plane steadily losing height without his knowledge. As Captain Edwards could not swim Winifred left him sitting on the wooden fuselage and swam ashore "6 strokes at a time". She then alerted local fishermen who set out to rescue Captain Edwards and the plane.
She participated in three out of four F.A.I - International Tourist Plane Contests
- Challenge 1929
, Challenge 1930
, Challenge 1932
, as one of only two women; being one of top contestants and taking the 10th place in 1929 and 4th place in 1930. In 1932 she occupied the 4th position after technical trials, but she decided to withdraw after a forced landing, caused by a sabotage on her fuel.
In 1931, she took the fifth place in the King's Cup Race and became the first British woman to earn her living as a private owner's personal pilot flying air racer and MP
, Sir William Lindsay Everard
, all over Britain, Europe, Turkey
and the Middle East
.
She is reported to have crashed a plane
in Cleator Moor
in Cumberland, UK
. The date is unknown but the plane was taken to the Mill Yard, and Spooner is reported to have suffered no more than tattered stockings.
A memorial service was held for Winifred four days later at St. Peter’s in Eaton Square, London. Many attended, including Viscountess Elibank; Lt.-Col. F.C. Shelmerdine, Director of Civil Aviation; Lady Acton and Kathleen Countess of Drogheda representing the Women’s Committee, Air League.
In January 1933 Winnie, who was never ill, caught a cold which rapidly worsened and she took to her bed. Pneumonia set in on the following day and the local doctor sent for a specialist from Nottingham. Unfortunately because of thick fog the specialist lost his way and the oxygen he was bringing, which might have saved her life, arrived too late. Winnie suffered a heart attack, and despite an injection of strychnine, she died on Friday January 13. The bad luck that had dogged Winnie all her life, and which had cost her numerous trophies and earned her the nickname ‘bad luck Wimpey’, had followed her to the end.
Her remains were taken to St. Swithin’s Church at Hinton Parva, near Swindon in Wiltshire for burial beside her parents. The Rev. W. Lucas Stubbs, the Rev. C.F. Burgess and the Rev. Gordon Soames conducted the service, and in addition to members of her family, those present included:- Captain Tregona representing the Italian Government; the Italian Air Minister, General Italo Balbo
, Commander H.E. Perrin, Secretary of the Royal Aero Club and her former employer, Lindsay Everard.
Sherborne Memorial Scholarship
In 1936 Winnie’s close friend, Dugald MacPherson, founded a memorial scholarship to her memory at Sherborne School for Girls. The object of. the scholarship is the encouragement of character rather than book learning and, in the award, special consideration is given to courage, enterprise, independence and generosity of mind—qualities that Winifred possessed. The sum awarded may help a girl to follow her bent, or help her pay for her education in a chosen career, is also one of the objects of the scholarship.
Harmon Trophy
The Harmon Trophy is a set of three international trophies, to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix , and aeronaut...
as the world's outstanding aviatrix of 1929. She died aged 33 from pneumonia.
Winifred Spooner was born in Woolwich in Kent. She attended Sherborne Girls
Sherborne School For Girls
Sherborne Girls is an independent day and boarding school for girls located in Sherborne, North Dorset. The school was founded in 1895 by Mr. and Mrs. Kenelm Wingfield Digby...
in Dorset.
She received a pilot's licence No. 8137 from London Aeroplane Club in September 1927, and then she became active competitor in sports aviation. She became only the 16th woman to receive a licence.
Winifred’s brothers, Tony and Frank, had leased some farmland and stables near Folly Court in Wokingham where they schooled and sold polo-ponies, hunters and steeplechasers. They called their enterprise The Polo Farm. During the First World War Frank had served as a cavalry officer in India, and from 1917 to 1918, had been the head of the equestrian school. Fortunately there was a field on the farm big enough upon which to land a light aircraft so Winifred built a wooden hangar and moved her Moth from Stag Lane. During this period Winifred, Hugh and Frank resided at No. 4, South Drive in Wokingham. Winifred continued her Air-Taxi Service, charging £4 an hour or one shilling a mile, covering Britain and France, and gave flying lessons. She also purchased a car. Wokingham locals recall her being one of the first woman drivers in the area. Some time later she moved to Scott’s Farm near Bearwood.
In July 1928 she took the 3rd place in the seventh King's Cup Race
King's Cup Race
The King's Cup Race is an annual British handicapped cross-country air race, first contested on 8 September 1922. The event was open to British pilots only, but that did include members of the Commonwealth....
and won the Siddeley Trophy as the first Aeroplane Club aviator to cross the line (flying DH.60 Cirrus I Moth).
In 1929 she finished fifth in the King's Cup Race, and won the Harmon Trophy
Harmon Trophy
The Harmon Trophy is a set of three international trophies, to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix , and aeronaut...
as the world's outstanding aviatrix. She also took 10th place in the International Tourist Plane Contests Challenge.
In 1930 she was a member of the British team at the International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge 1930
Challenge 1930
The International Touring Competition in 1930 was the second FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe....
between 16 July and 8 August in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, finishing the rally seventh overall in her De Havilland Gipsy Moth. She completed the whole contest on a high 4th position. In late August of the same year she was fourth in the handicapped race Giro Aereo d'Italia in Italy.
On 5 December 1930, accompanied by Captain Edwards, she set out to prove that South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
could be reached within 5 days by flying day and night. Unfortunately after 16 hours while Captain Edwards was flying the aircraft and Winifred was asleep, the plane crashed into the sea off the coast of Belmonte Calabro in complete darkness. Captain Edwards could not give a reason for the plane steadily losing height without his knowledge. As Captain Edwards could not swim Winifred left him sitting on the wooden fuselage and swam ashore "6 strokes at a time". She then alerted local fishermen who set out to rescue Captain Edwards and the plane.
She participated in three out of four F.A.I - International Tourist Plane Contests
Challenge 1929
The Challenge 1929 was the first FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between August 4 and August 16, 1929 in Paris, France. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.-Overview:...
- Challenge 1929
Challenge 1929
The Challenge 1929 was the first FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between August 4 and August 16, 1929 in Paris, France. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.-Overview:...
, Challenge 1930
Challenge 1930
The International Touring Competition in 1930 was the second FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe....
, Challenge 1932
Challenge 1932
The Challenge 1932 was the third FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between 12 and August 28, 1932 in Berlin, Germany. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.-Overview:...
, as one of only two women; being one of top contestants and taking the 10th place in 1929 and 4th place in 1930. In 1932 she occupied the 4th position after technical trials, but she decided to withdraw after a forced landing, caused by a sabotage on her fuel.
In 1931, she took the fifth place in the King's Cup Race and became the first British woman to earn her living as a private owner's personal pilot flying air racer and MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Sir William Lindsay Everard
William Lindsay Everard
Sir William Lindsay Everard was a brewer, politician, and philanthropist from Leicestershire, United Kingdom. As the founder and supporter of the Ratcliffe Aerodrome, Sir Lindsay was a pioneer aviator, knighted for his crucial efforts in World War II with the Air Transport Auxiliary...
, all over Britain, Europe, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
She is reported to have crashed a plane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
in Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland....
in Cumberland, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The date is unknown but the plane was taken to the Mill Yard, and Spooner is reported to have suffered no more than tattered stockings.
A memorial service was held for Winifred four days later at St. Peter’s in Eaton Square, London. Many attended, including Viscountess Elibank; Lt.-Col. F.C. Shelmerdine, Director of Civil Aviation; Lady Acton and Kathleen Countess of Drogheda representing the Women’s Committee, Air League.
In January 1933 Winnie, who was never ill, caught a cold which rapidly worsened and she took to her bed. Pneumonia set in on the following day and the local doctor sent for a specialist from Nottingham. Unfortunately because of thick fog the specialist lost his way and the oxygen he was bringing, which might have saved her life, arrived too late. Winnie suffered a heart attack, and despite an injection of strychnine, she died on Friday January 13. The bad luck that had dogged Winnie all her life, and which had cost her numerous trophies and earned her the nickname ‘bad luck Wimpey’, had followed her to the end.
Her remains were taken to St. Swithin’s Church at Hinton Parva, near Swindon in Wiltshire for burial beside her parents. The Rev. W. Lucas Stubbs, the Rev. C.F. Burgess and the Rev. Gordon Soames conducted the service, and in addition to members of her family, those present included:- Captain Tregona representing the Italian Government; the Italian Air Minister, General Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
, Commander H.E. Perrin, Secretary of the Royal Aero Club and her former employer, Lindsay Everard.
Sherborne Memorial Scholarship
In 1936 Winnie’s close friend, Dugald MacPherson, founded a memorial scholarship to her memory at Sherborne School for Girls. The object of. the scholarship is the encouragement of character rather than book learning and, in the award, special consideration is given to courage, enterprise, independence and generosity of mind—qualities that Winifred possessed. The sum awarded may help a girl to follow her bent, or help her pay for her education in a chosen career, is also one of the objects of the scholarship.