25 Facts About Florence Blenkiron

Florence Margaret Charlotte Blenkiron was born in Harmby, Yorkshire to John Blenkiron and Mary.

Florence Blenkiron's father was grocer's assistant in 1901 census but by 1911 the family were living in Ellerton Abbey, Marrick, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where the extended Blenkiron family had lived for generations.

Florence Blenkiron rode her first motorcycle at the age of sixteen.

Florence Blenkiron joined in the first Ladies Race at Brooklands race course in 1928 which had been organised by Lady Malcolm Campbell.

On 18 October 1933, Florence Blenkiron won her first race, the Three-lap All-Comer's Handicap, becoming the first woman to win a race open to both men and women.

On 14 April 1934, Florence Blenkiron became the first woman to break the 100-mile per hour barrier on a motorcycle, riding a 500cc Grindlay-Peerless bike.

Florence Blenkiron was interested in visiting family friends in Cape Town and after a joking conversation about getting there by motorcycle, the two women started to plan a trip in earnest.

In June 1935 the Woman Engineer journal reported "Miss Wallach and Miss Florence Blenkiron are now heading for Nairobi on their motorcycle combination; some of their more unpleasant adventures have included four nights in a tropical jungle without food or shelter, and capture by Tourags in the desert".

Florence Blenkiron left Cape Town alone on the "Venture II" motorcycle and sidecar on 18 September 1935.

Florence Blenkiron is thought to have travelled through Salisbury, Nairobi, Faradje, Niangara, Bula, Fardje, Marouna and forced to abandon travelling by motorcycle and tow it behind a bus from Kano as the local authorities were unwilling for her to travel alone due to the cost of a potential rescue mission.

Florence Blenkiron reached Algiers by 10 February 1936 and completed the journey back to London by April 1936 where she arrived to meet the High Commissioner for South Rhodesia at Rhodesia House and present him with a letter from the Prime Minister of South Africa.

Florence Blenkiron published "Exclusive Graphic Story" in the Newcastle Sunday Sun on 3 May 1936, illustrated with some photographs of the journey.

Florence Blenkiron was elected as an Associate Member of the Women's Engineering Society in 1938 in recognition of the journey to Cape Town and back, along with her considerable experience of the administrative side of steel production whilst working for the foundry firm Hadfields Ltd.

In 1937 Florence Blenkiron began to advertise her services as a chauffeur and tour guide.

In 1938 Florence Blenkiron's chauffeuring business took her to Melbourne, Australia, on board the SS Orcades as a chauffeuse and companion, touring the country.

Florence Blenkiron received a 2nd Subaltern commission in September 1941.

Florence Blenkiron was responsible for teaching a driving and maintenance course for all United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration personnel sent on service to Egypt, which they had to pass before being allowed access to military vehicles.

In 1945 Florence Blenkiron was mentioned in Despatches and in charge of 30 buses driven by Palestinian women in Cairo for the transportation of Army Officers between their place of residence and Headquarters.

In 1945 Florence Blenkiron requested a move to Calcutta in India to join the staff of the YMCA War Services Club, where she took charge of transport.

Florence Blenkiron met Kenneth Malcolm Kingaby there whilst he was a serving army officer.

In November 1945 she resigned her commission and they married in January 1946, moving to Bombay where Florence Blenkiron took over running the YMCA War Services Club.

Florence Blenkiron returned to Britain for a month arriving at Tilbury on 3 November 1947 on the ship Strathmore and leaving Liverpool for Bombay on the Empress of India in December 1947.

Once the club closed and Kenneth was demobbed from the army, he worked for an American pharmaceutical and Florence Blenkiron project managed the restoration of a factory for his company, before they returned to Britain in 1955.

Florence Blenkiron became accountant for a large estate near Peterborough, then owned by William Scott Abbott, today known as Sacrewell Farm.

Florence Blenkiron Kingaby died on 4 Mar 1991, after a stroke she had moved to a nursing home, in Thornhaugh, Peterborough.