Bumper crowds enjoy surprise visit by plane in 1911 Horsham

There was plenty of interest and surprise on August 1 (and the day after) back in 1911 when an aircraft landed on Horsham Golf Club which was situated in the nearby village of Broadbridge Heath.

It landed at seven minutes past eight in the morning and the news that a plane had landed ‘spread like wildfire’, according to the extensive newspaper report that followed the event.

It was such an unusual occurrence that numerous people ran out of their homes from the village as well as in Horsham, all hoping to catch sight of the plane before it took off.

However, the pilot, Mr H. Barber, wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He had left his base, the airfield at Shoreham, but the wind was so strong that he was struggling to make much headway and he also lost altitude.

So he and his companion, Miss Trehawke Davies, with whom he had flown from Hendon to Shoreham the previous day, decided to land and wait it out for better weather.

The plane was a Valkyrie type B model with the motor behind the seats and was roped off near the entrance to the golf club.

The club quickly took advantage of the situation and the golf professional held a collection box at the gate, with everyone expected to put money in it on behalf of Horsham Cottage Hospital.

The police arrived in the afternoon and admittance was only allowed if 6d was paid. However, some folk entered the area via ‘the Common’ and, beside their non-payment, also managed to damage some of the bunkers.

By about 5pm there were around 3,000 present with many motorists and hundreds of cyclists turning up.

The plane had been covered in tarpaulin as there were thunderstorms around but after 7pm this was taken off, along with cheering from the crowd, so the plane could be seen.

Photographers ‘were exceedingly busy’ and then Mr Barber and Miss Trewhake Davies returned after having gone off for refreshments.

Such was the interest in the whole episode the newspaper report provided details of what the pilot and his companion were wearing. She was wearing a dark navy coat and light blue motor veil. Under Mr Barber’s coat was a khaki-coloured close-fitting suit. He donned a a helmet-shaped cap of the same colour.

Miss Davies chatted to local landowners Mr Charles Lucas and Col Alfred Lucas while Mr Barber tested out the plane engines.

He then, alone, took the aircraft up for a demonstration flight, saying that the masses of people who had waited so long deserved to see a display.

Subsequently, Mr Barber and Miss Davies left with Mr Lucas for Warnham Court to spend the night.

The police had their work cut out trying to keep the public behind the ropes but the night passed quietly. In the early morning of August 2 the pilot and his passenger, along with the airman’s mechanic (who had stayed in the nearby Shelley Arms) arrived at the golf club.

After a quick solo flight to check everything was OK, Mr Barber landed and was joined by Miss Davies who took charge of the compass. She then put on her white gloves and, just after 5am, the plane was off heading to Hendon.

The golf club owners, after deducting enough to cover damage to fences and other parts of the course, were able to present Horsham Cottage Hospital around £20.