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[edit] Aviation
Doncaster has an international airport, Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, which opened on April 28, 2005, on the former Royal Air Force station of RAF Finningley, in Doncaster.
[edit] Aviation History of Doncaster
[edit] RFC Doncaster/RAF Doncaster/Doncaster Airport
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Main article: RAF Doncaster
In 1909 Doncaster Racecourse was chosen as the venue for an airshow, after the world's first air display in Rheims, France in 1908. All the world's leading aviators were present. Samuel F. Cody (no relation to William F.Cody) in an attempt to win a prize offered by The Daily Mail for the first British pilot in a British aeroplane to fly a circular mile signed British naturalisation papers in front of the crowd with the band playing both God Save the King and the Star Spangled Banner. Unfortunately, he crashed his British Army Aeroplane No.1 whilst taxiing.
During World War I fighters based first from the racecourse, then a temporary airstrip near Finningley (later RAF Finningley and now Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield International Airport) and finally, in 1916, from a newly built airfield alongside the racecourse, were deployed to defend the east coast against Zeppelins. On a number of occasions fighters took off to search for the intruders but none were ever seen. The Royal Flying Corps station trained pilots for the war in France. Within months of the war ending the entire station was put up for sale and two of its three Belfast hangars, the same type of hangar that now forms the basis for the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, were sold to a Sheffield motor manufacturing company for storage and assembly at Finningley. The third of the hangars stayed in place, mainly housing buses, until the 1970s when it was knocked down and replaced with modern buildings.
In 1920 the Government asked local authorities to assist in the formation of a chain of airfields so the country would not lag behind other nations in the provision of civil air services. Doncaster took heed and, with expert advice from Alan Cobham, on 26 May 1934, opened a grandly called 'aviation centre'. Development of the airfield continued and on 1 July 1936 an international service was opened to Amsterdam. On 1 November 1938, after long discussions with the Air Ministry, 616 (South Yorkshire) fighter Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force was formed. Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939 the squadron went to its battle station and played an honourable part in the Battle of Britain. After the departure of 616 squadron its place was taken by the formation of 271 (Transport) Squadron composed mainly of requisitioned civilian aircraft and obsolescent twin engined bombers. 616 squadron should be noted as the first Allied jet fighter squadron, who were equipped with the Gloster Meteor, famed for using their wingtips for throwing German V-1 "buzzbombs" off course. In 1944, after being re-equipped with Dakotas, the squadron moved south to take part in Operation 'Overlord' and later in the airborne invasion at Arnhem where Flight Lieutenant David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
After the war the airfield reverted to civilian flying and finally closed in 1992.
[edit] RAF Finningley
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Main article: RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley was home to the Finningley Airshow for over three decades. The show was England's premier airshow and featured such aircraft as Concorde, RAF Vulcans and the Red Arrows. For around 20 years it was the largest Aircrew Training facility in the RAF.
[edit] Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport
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Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport commenced operation on April 28, 2005. The airport was created following the redevelopment of the former RAF station RAF Finningley, that had closed in 1994. The airport serves many destinations through principal carrier Thomsonfly as well as several others. During its first year of operation, the airport handled over 900,000 passengers.
[edit] Famous people
- Mark Atkins (footballer) - Professional footballer and Premiership winner with Blackburn Rovers
- Douglas Bader - Fighter pilot who continued to fly after losing his legs. Lived in Sprotbrough near Doncaster during his teenage years.[3]
- Jessica Baglow - Actress who played Lucy Snow in Where the Heart Is and currently plays Karla Bentham in Waterloo Road
- John Francis Bentley - Ecclesiastical architect, most famous for Westminster Cathedral
- Brian Blessed - Actor known for his work in film and TV was born in Mexborough in 1936.[4][5]
- George Boole - Mathematician and philosopher and inventor of Boolean algebra. [6]
- Liam Botham - Rugby player, former cricketer and son of well-known cricketer Ian Botham.[7]
- Steve Burton - Footballer
- Tony Christie - Famous singer and musical performer. Born in Conisbrough, just outside of Doncaster.[8]
- Roy Clarke - Script writer. Credits include Keeping Up Appearances, Open All Hours and Last of the Summer Wine.
- Jeremy Clarkson - Journalist / television presenter.[9]
- Thomas Crapper - Credited with popularising the modern flushing toilet.[10][11]
- Richard Dawson - Former England Test Cricket player.
- Neil Dudgeon - Actor
- David Firth - An animator of Flash cartoons and various short videos.
- Lesley Garrett - World renowned opera singer.[12]
- Kelly Harrison - Actress from BBC Drama Casualty.[13]
- Darius Henderson - Watford F.C. footballer
- Sam Hird - Doncaster Rovers footballer
- Kevin Hughes - Member of Parliament, died 2006
- Benjamin Huntsman - Inventor and steel-manufacturer
- Graham Hyde - Former Sheffield Wednesday footballer
- Kevin Keegan - Former international and ex-Liverpool F.C. footballer. Former England coach, currently Newcastle United manager. Born in Armthorpe near Doncaster.[14]
- Julia Mallam - Ex Emmerdale actress
- John McLaughlin - Famous jazz guitarist and leader of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, born 1942 in Kirk Sandall near Doncaster.[15]
- Mary Millar - Actress, famous for playing Rose in Keeping Up Appearances from series 2
- Paddington Bear - Licensed toys of the famous bear were first made by Gabrielle Designs, a company started in 1972 by Shirley and Eddie Clarkson from their Burghwallis home[16]. Large scale production of the toys ran from a site in Adwick (known locally as the Bear Garden[17]) until 1998.
- David Moffett Sports business manager for Sport England, Welsh Rugby Union and other major sporting organisiations, was born in Doncaster in 1947.
- Roger Needham - Computer scientist
- David Pegg - Manchester United player who died in the Munich air disaster.[18]
- Jonti Picking - Commonly known as Weebl, author of the Webcartoon Weebl & Bob.[19]
- Ricky Ravenhill - Darlington FC footballer
- Diana Rigg - Actress best-known for the ITV series The Avengers and Bond-girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film).[20]
- Dennis Rollins- Jazz trombonist. Born in Birmingham but lived in Doncaster from an early age. Joined Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra at 14.
- Brian Shenton - Former sprinter who represented England and Great Britain in the 1950s.
- Richard Smith - Podcast host and co-founder of Simply Syndicated
- James Toseland - MotoGP motorcycle racer, 2004 and 2007 Superbike World Champion. Born in Doncaster [21] in 1980
- Anna Tunnicliffe - Olympic sailor
- Simon Weaver - Footballer
- Mick Whitnall - Current (2008) lead guitarist with Babyshambles
- Billy Bremner - Although born in Stirling, Scotland, Billy Bremner started and finished his football management career at Doncaster Rovers (with spells at Hull City and Leeds United in between). He also made five league appearances for Rovers between 1979 and 1981. Billy died in Doncaster on 7th December, 1997.
[edit] Radio Stations
Sine FM - [1]
[edit] See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
[edit] References and notes
- , Neighbourhood Statistics
- , http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/pmsa/doncaster/00000046.htm Corn Exchange Public Art (with details of construction date)
- , BBC - h2g2 - Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, DSO DFC
- , BBC South Yorkshire, £1m makeover for Goldthorpe's theatre. Url accessed on 14 July 2006.
- , Brian Blessed
- , University of St Andrews MacTutor profile shows he worked in Doncaster
- , Wisden Cricketer profile of Liam Botham
- , Tony Christie at his own site
- , Jeremy Clarkson
- , Thomas Crapper: A Man, A Plan, A Commode!
- , Thunder, Flush and Thomas Crapper: C
- , BBC NEWS | UK | Lesley Garrett: Doncaster's own diva
- , Kelly Harrison (I)
- , BBC Sport Fact file. Url accessed 14 July 2006.
- , John McLaughlin - Official Website v3
- , Gabrielle Designs Bears
- , Latest News and Features: Famous Doncastrian: Paddington Bear, on Donny Online
- , Munich58.co.uk - David Pegg
- , B3TA : NEWSLETTER : ISSUE 57: "P45 ROULETTE"
- , BBC South Yorkshire, Meet... Dame Diana Rigg. Url accessed on 14 July 2006.
- , JamesToseland.com - vital stats
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |
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