Southbourne Spitfire flypast in memory of a legend (From Bournemouth Echo)

Southbourne Spitfire flypast in memory of a legend

10:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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A CELEBRITY daredevil died in front of thousands of people in Southbourne – but few people realise it.

That’s why a Spitfire flypast on July 9 will remind people of Charles Rolls, of Rolls-Royce fame.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of his death during a competition at Southbourne aerodrome.

His plane cracked up and plunged to the ground from 40 feet up.

The 33-year-old died half-an-hour after coming down on today’s St Peter’s School playing fields, just behind the houses fronting on to Broadway.

He was the first Briton to die in a flying accident and his whole life was about engineering and adventure – air balloons, racing cars and flying.

“He was a celebrity in the newspapers of the time,” said enthusiast and aviation engineer Anthony Harrington, 82 of Pokesdown.

“He was an ‘honourable’, the son of a lord. The new King and Queen sent his family messages of condolence.”

Anthony is one of several enthusiasts who have organised four days of events to mark the death and tie in with the Bournemouth bicentenary.

The RAF Central Band will perform and the main event is a wreath laying on Sunday, July 11.

The enthusiasts hope to rekindle interest in Rolls’ story and Southbourne’s role in aviation.

Rolls was one the pioneers of British flying and met the Wright brothers several times.

The competition where he died attracted more than 10,000 spectators on some days.

Anthony said: “People need to realise they are standing on history.”

John Cresswell, 71, a former De Haviland employee and a local historian who lives on the former aerodrome site, said: “The more you get to know about the place where you live, the more you appreciate it.”

There is also a long term plan for a statue, hopefully in Southbourne, possibly in the town centre.