15 Facts About Graham Gilmour

Graham Gilmour was a British pioneer aviator, known for his impromptu public displays of flying.

Graham Gilmour started his practical engineering training at Allens of Bedford from 1905 to 1907 and then to the Adams Motor Company where he specialised in internal combustion engines.

Graham Gilmour went to the Rheims aviation meeting in August 1909 and bought himself a Bleriot aircraft; he next had to learn to fly it.

Graham Gilmour learnt to fly in France, first at the Antoinette school at Pau school and later at the Bleriot school, and was awarded French flying license No 75 on 19 May 1910.

Graham Gilmour's Bleriot did not fare so well: it was delivered from Paris to Pau but was damaged on the railway journey.

Graham Gilmour was the owner of 29 motor cycles and with his engineering training it was not hard for him to handle the Anzani engine fitted to the Bleriot.

Graham Gilmour afterwards ran out of petrol and had to land on the Chiswick Polytechnic cricket field.

Graham Gilmour was to have flown a Bristol in the Gordon Bennett Trophy competition at Eastchurch, but his racing aircraft was not ready for the start: instead Graham Gilmour made some exhibition flights in a Bristol biplane.

Graham Gilmour was prevented from competing in the 1912 Circuit of Britain race, in which he was to have flown a Bristol Type T On 5 July Gilmour had made a flight over central London, and was reported to have circled the dome of St Paul's Cathedral before following the course of the Thames as far as Westminster Bridge, causing members of parliament to crowd the terrace of the Houses of Parliament to witness his flight.

Graham Gilmour marked the ban by placing a black crepe bound mourning wreath above his hangar.

Graham Gilmour continued to fly for Bristol instructing and making trial flights and late in 1911 began making trial flights for Martin-Handasyde.

In 1911 he was charged with manslaughter after he ran down a 10-year-old boy at Wylye, Wiltshire while he was driving a motor-car, Graham Gilmour was overtaking a cart when the boy ran out into the road.

Graham Gilmour had set off from Brooklands at about 11 am to make a trial cross-country flight in a Martin Handasyde monoplane.

The accident was possibly due to Graham Gilmour encountering an air pocket: other aviators had encountered such conditions that day.

The letter Graham Gilmour had left outlining his wishes for his funeral ended "I want every one to be merry and bright, for I don't believe in moaning" He was buried at St Michael's Churchyard, Mickleham with his parents David and Margaret.