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‘Close encounter at Coley Park’ Although a local newspaper photograph, taken during World War I, showed an aircraft which had met with an accident close to this bridge in Southcote Farm Lane, Reading, it seems it was not the railway itself which had caused problems for the pilot. Nevertheless, since the railway line virtually formed the northern boundary of a small airfield, known as Coley Park, which was there at the time, I couldn’t resist bringing it into the story of this short-lived but significant part of Berkshire’s early aviation history. In 1915, the Royal Flying Corps created the No.1 School of Military Aeronautics, with its headquarters at Yeomanry House in Castle Hill, Reading. Classrooms were situated at Wantage Hall - still part of Reading University - and the nearby playing fields were used to give what, to modern eyes, appears to be some highly unusual instruction for trainee pilots and observers. The No.1 School of Technical Training (Men) was also established at the same time and used the same headquarters. For instruction in aircraft fitting and their mechanical operation, the Co-operative Society Jam Works in Elgar Road, Reading was requisitioned. Shortly afterwards, an airfield was created in fields behind the works which, today, are crossed by Rose Kiln Lane. However, the area is close to a river and, as can still be seen today, is subject to flooding and misty conditions – which caused far more problems than the railway. In 1917, the School moved to Halton, where it eventually led to the famous RAF Apprentices School. By 1919, the Coley Park airfield had closed. ____________________ |
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Painted in oils on canvas. 2000. 500mm x 400mm. |