ROBERT BLACKBURN

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Brunel
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Post by Brunel »

Talk on “Early Aviation in Roundhay Park and Yorkshire – The Life and Times of Robert Blackburn 1885-1955”, which is being given by Professor Robert Blackburn on Monday, 12th May 2014, at 7.00 p.m. in St Andrew’s United Reform Church, Shaftesbury Avenue, Roundhay.

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chameleon
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Post by chameleon »

A related thread which gives some information about Blackburn's may also be of interest to some _http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messages.aspx?ThreadID=277

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Leodian
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Post by Leodian »

Brunel wrote: Talk on “Early Aviation in Roundhay Park and Yorkshire – The Life and Times of Robert Blackburn 1885-1955”, which is being given by Professor Robert Blackburn on Monday, 12th May 2014, at 7.00 p.m. in St Andrew’s United Reform Church, Shaftesbury Avenue, Roundhay. In view of their same names it would be a remarkable coincidence if they are not related. Does anyone know therefore what relation (if there is one) that the two Robert Blackburn's have?
A rainbow is a ribbon that Nature puts on when she washes her hair.

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Brunel
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Post by Brunel »

Prof. Robert Blackburn is the grandson.https://www.kcl.ac.uk/law/people/academ ... KSHIRE.pdf    

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Leodian
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Post by Leodian »

Brunel wrote: Prof. Robert Blackburn is the grandson.https://www.kcl.ac.uk/law/people/academ ... KSHIRE.pdf     Thanks Brunel. The information brought up through the last link is fascinating. I won't repeat much but I did like these bits:-"By April 1910 the three men had taken premises on Balm Road and were ready to try out their aeroplane on the beach at Marske. To our sophisticated eyes it must have looked very strange. The propeller was 8 feet 6 inches in diameter and driven by a 2 to 1 chain drive from a platform mounted engine. The pilot sat on a wicker chair from George Blackburn’s garden. Probably where the pilot sat was the last thought. Bob the pilot was dressed in tweeds wearing a cloth cap back to front and goggles. This first attempt was not very successful and the plane was scrapped."."The year 1911 was a year of ups and downs in aviation...A great boost to the future of aviation was given in the shape of prize money offered for a Circuit of Britain Air Race. The prize of 10,000 pounds was considerable then not to mention the fame and honour. The race was arranged by the Daily Mail newspaper. The challenge brought many eager flyers not only from Britain but also from Europe...Twenty-seven planes left Brooklands racetrack on the 22nd July 1911...Another came down in a field at the top of Harehills Lane Leeds, to enquire the way? A Frenchman came down on Wetherby Racecourse mistaking it for Harrogate Stray. Yet another flew very low over Spofforth shouting to passers by asking which way to Harrogate? He eventually came to grief coming down fortunately on a local cricket pitch...The actual planned temporary landing spot on Harrogate Stray had some 50,000 people eagerly waiting the flyers on this leg of the race. They had all paid between 6 pence and 5 shillings for a good view". I particularly like the "pilot sat on a wicker chair" and "dressed in tweeds wearing a cloth cap back to front and goggles".    
A rainbow is a ribbon that Nature puts on when she washes her hair.

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