This is vague, but I remember reading something once that the Ace of
Spades was popular with flying types in the 1930's and some used to
fly there. Presumably there was some clear area nearby for them to
land on, though the recreation ground would possibly be too small.
I go round the Hook roundabout each night on the way home, having come
down Woodstock Lane, up the n/bound sliproad and then back down to
Esher. This is to aviod the hideous queues on the Esher-Kingston road
via Long Ditton.
When I was a child in the 70's I recall the Silly Isles, (I think it
was always stupid silly as opposed to islands off Cornwall), had a
different layout with more than one roundabout as now, hence the name.
In the same location, I heard a story that the railway bridge nearby
over the Hampton Court-Esher Road was constructed wider than necessary
as it was intended the road would be wider. The path on one side is
quite wide. Don't knowe how true this is though.
I don't often travel Londonbound on the A3, but I think the doors in
the side of the Hook Underpass are still visible. Are there any up the
road at Tolworth. I seem to think there are, but might be confusing
the two. If there are were they put there as an option to do the same
as at Hook, or just for maintainence access?

Neill



Stuart wrote in message k...
Troy Steadman wrote:


Farmer Brooms fields behind Kelvin Grove (just across the A3)? There is
a picture in HRA of a 5/- a flight bi-plane in the 1930's. Don't suppose
the pub owned the airfield but it was certainly very close to it, and a
picture in the Cap in Hand makes the connection. Douglas Bader used the
Ace but *didn't* fly to it AFAIK.

Interesting, so behind Kelvin Gravoe would be what is now the King
Edward Recreation Ground then?

What is HRA and what is 5/-??