Winifred Brown

Winifred Sawley Brown (also known as Winifred Adams; 26 November 1899 – 30 July 1984) was an English sportswoman, aviator and author. She was the first woman to win the King's Cup air race (in 1930). The race has been running annually since 1922. Early life and career Brown was born in 1899 in Cheshire. Her father was the director of a butcher firm. She was expelled from school at the age of 14, after writing graffiti featuring the headteacher on a toilet wall. She made her first flight in 1919, at Hooton Park Aerodrome, and she later took up flying lessons with the Lancashire Aero Club at Woodford Aerodrome, from where she received her pilot's licence in 1927. As the first female member of the Lancashire Aero Club, she was not allowed to take part in club events that were defined for all-male participants. In 1927, she was photographed in her pilot's outfit by the Lafayette company. One of these portraits, which was owned by Pinewood Studios, is in the National Portrait Gallery. She competed in the Talbot O'Farrell Handicap at the Filton Aerodrome in May 1928. Her father bought her an aircraft (an Avro Avian) for £500. King's Cup air race In July 1929, Brown attended the King's Cup air race at Squires Gate Aerodrome, which inspired her to consider entering the race the next year, aiming for some credibility for herself to take part in events reserved for men. With the moral support of both her father and boyfriend, in the winter of 1929/1930, she eventually decided to formally enter the 1930 race. The Lancashire Aero Club principals did not support her competing, as they worried her result might look bad for the club. The 9th edition of the race for 1930 attracted a record entry list of 101 aircraft, to be piloted by many notable aviators including several former King's Cup winners, and the Schneider trophy winner of 1929 Richard Waghorn, and Augustus Orlebar who had set the world speed record with flying a Supermarine S.6. Others included Geoffrey de Havilland, Geoffrey de Havilland Jr., Lady Mary Bailey, Winifred Spooner, Edgar Percival, Frederick Guest, and the Master of Sempill. On 4 July 1930, she arrived at London Air Park, Hanworth, with her companion Ron Adams, but she was denied a room at the local aero club where a social pre-race event was taking place, and instead stayed elsewhere.