Southampton Model Aeroplane Club

Club History

The club are grateful to P. T. Guilmant who recorded many of the following notes on the clubs history.

P T Guilmant with glider (1950)

Way back in 1932, a few stalwarts like Jim Craddock, Norman Pudney and Allan Wraight, founded the first Southampton Model Aircraft Club. This was the first known attempt to run such a club in Southampton and its success was limited, due perhaps to the general lack of public interest in aviation at that time.

Round about 1935 the Southampton and District Model Engineering Society (S. & D.M.E.S.) was founded and soon gained a place among local clubs. Vague negotiations between this club and the Model Aircraft Club eventually resulted in the fusion of the two.

In 1936 Norman Pudney was asked to re-organise the Model Aircraft Section of the S. & D. M.E.S. and this he ably did, the Section gaining greater representation on the general committee.

Club Members meeting above a soft drinks factory, Pitt Road, Shirley Pre 1939-45 war

In 1938 Jack Lamerton - of Lamerton’s Stores, Woolston, was elected secretary of the Aircraft Section and with much hard work made it the most active of all sections of the S. & D.M.E.S. He was responsible for the organisation of Gala Days on the Common and other happy events too numerous to mention. It was he who with the Aircraft Section slipping farther and farther away from the main society, eventually arranged the breakaway in late 1939. The Southampton Model Aeroplane Club was now founded as an Independent society, and unanimously elected Jack Lamerton as secretary.

Mr. Lamerton was kind enough to allow the Club to make its headquarters in a store at the rear of the business in Woolston where it would be to this day but for a large German bomb which landed on the shop and suspended the Club’s activities.

Peter Cock with his own design Radio Queen

Such expert modellers as Pete Cock (some time U.K. control line champion), Harold Smith, Noel Hillier, Norman Pudney and AIlan Wraight led the field in those days. Regular visits to such events as the Wakefield Trials, King Peter Cup and Northern Heights Gala Days were arranged. Although membership never rose much above thirty - with two-thirds as senior members - enthusiasm was high.

The Famous Wakefield

It would take a book to relate all the details of the Club’s activities during those happy months of its infancy but the few old members still with us, Pete Cock,Brian Pearce and myself [P.T.Guilmant], would I am sure be pleased to relate their early experiences at any time.

It was with considerable regret that the Club had to be temporarily disbanded after the Club-room was destroyed In 1940.

The few articles of furniture rescued were deposited with Mr. Lamerton senior, the cups with Jack Lamerton and the few surviving papers with myself [P.T.Guilmant]. On 28^th August 1945, the Club was re-formed. Its activities from that date are well known and adequately recorded in the Club’s books and papers.

Sadly at least two members were killed in the armed forces during WW2.

Permission to fly gliders and electric models at the Lordshill Outdoor Recreational Centre was obtained from Southampton Council by Doug Gordon, and Ritchie Ramon was a leading light in electric flying there for many years, helping many newcomers.

Over the years club meetings have been held in various places, including Mr Lamerton’s store at Woolston, the club room on Southampton Common, at Southampton University College [as it was then], at Redbridge Community Centre and the Anchor Inn,Redbridge.