Lt. Cmdr. Alwyn Greenhalgh C.Eng., FRAeS., MIMechE., R.N.
As the official Historian for the S.M.A.E. for many years, Alwyn and the collection of models, engines and memorabilia he gathered were an important link with the past and his death on 7'h July removes yet another source of direct recollections.
Retirement in 1989 after his long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy as a marine and aeronautical Engineer Commander followed by twenty years with the British Standards Institution had given him great expectations of extending his range of reproductions of famous models. Sadly, that ambition was cut short by a stroke in 1990 that was to handicap his activities. Only through his strong willed nature and determination to overcome effects on speech, memory and mobility was he able to sustain his keen interest in all modelling matters over the past 12 years. Thanks to his wife Sheila, most of those handicaps were gradually overcome through her remarkable ability to interpret Alwyn's thoughts. He was able to ensure that all the models were well
maintained and packaged ready for the time when presentation in a secure establishment would provide a permanent, educational display covering the history of aeromodelling over the first fifty years.
Though a proud and very private man whose appearances at the Old Warden Vintage rallies with both original and his own replicas of famous models was always a rather startling revelation to the uninformed, Alwyn had for years been running his own campaign for air education. His lectures in schools, public halls and the theatres of
learned establislunents had shown progress from Penaud to the Wake fields of the 70s, from the Stanger engine of 1908 to the modern diesels. Hot air, compressed air, flapping wings or canards, they were all part of his remarkable tale, told with Lancastrian humour and interspersed with flights at head height above the bemused audience.
This ability to communicate the little understood aspects of aeromodelling stemmed largely from his own experience in life. Thankfully he noted his own personal reminiscences of the early days, and they paint a picture that will be familiar to many Septuagenarians, possibly even surprising to younger folk whose aeromodelling
experiences started with the postwar boom- or later. This is what he noted-
Aeromodelling beginnings 1930
"In 1930, when 1 was six, 1 started building models from firewood and scraps of tinplate. They were not to my liking! Father look me in hand and in December he bought a book titled 'The Model Aeroplane Manual' which cost him one shilling and sixpence.
This was edited by R. Langley and published by Percival Marshal & Co. of London. One of the models in it was 'The Beginners Tractor Monoplane' and father decided to make it in 1932. It did not fly very well.
During 1932/33 balsa wood was becoming useful and father was cutting it for The Balsa Wood Company in London. The first supply was 12 pieces of 3x3 in 3ft. long. Then in
1933 a book entitled 'Model aeroplanes simply explained' became available and it included the "Avis" (M. R. Knight's design) which flew very well, including impressive take-offs. "
"The next one my father built was a three foot span high wing own design and this was the beginning of my three-footers. By the end of 1933 father had joined the Manchester MAS and I became a member in March 1934, just 9.3 yrs old."
"The Wakefield Elimination Trials were at Warwick racecourse in June 1933 and for the following year a new Wakefield model was built and tested. Our family were taken by car from Bolton to the Fairey's Great West Aerodrome for the contest. Father did not qualify. The Manchester MAS became the Lancashire MAS and in July '34 my own Wakefield model was finished. It was to enter contests over the next three years and was identical to my fathers. Both models captured the Lancs MAS Cups and Trophies and my own was awarded the "Rio" silver cup in a competition to publicise the film "Flying Down to Rio" staring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. My Wakefield won it outright for the best duration at Barton Airport on September 16th 1934. The cup is inscribed - Winner, Alwyn Greenhalgh, age 10, Flying "Conquest II" Barton Airport."
"In the Farrow Shield contest the same year Lancs MAC had an outstanding victory. My score was 1,043 secs. C. S. Rushhrooke 376 secs and J. W. Kenworthy 119 secs. Both father and 1 decided to enter the 1936 Wakefield Trials at Heath Row, where I placed 2nd and qualified for the team."
That experience of the 11 yr old flyer sailing across to New York in the Aquitania, going by train to Buffalo then Lake steamer to Detroit, competing in the contest which was won by Bert Judge and returning on the SS Europa has been well recorded elsewhere. It was barely mentioned in Alwyn's notes!!
"Father and other local model flyers formed the Bolton MAS. We were flying in 1937 at Toye Farm, Afferside and meeting in the model shop run by my mother on the third floor of Shannons, a building on the corner of Great Moor Street and Newport Street in Bolton. We travelled by bus to fly at weekends with about 25-30 other flyers."
"Meanwhile my father, G. W. Greenhalgh had started his own woodworking firm firm from 1933 including cutting balsa wood and he bought Lomax's Garage in Holland Street. In 1937 he was making kits under the name "Grenwyn" with myself and father designing the models. Sweetens were distributing the kits trom Blackpool from '38 through to 1945. The "Grenwyn " Works moved in 1942 to 47 Queen Street, Farnworth and apart from the kits which included Sweetens rubber scale models, The firm was also involved in work for the government."
"Mrs. Greenhalgh moved her Model Depot shop from Shannons to number 6, Bold Street in 1938, buying the corner shop in '39. It was sold circa 1964 to Boydells."
Retirement in 1989 after his long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy as a marine and aeronautical Engineer Commander followed by twenty years with the British Standards Institution had given him great expectations of extending his range of reproductions of famous models. Sadly, that ambition was cut short by a stroke in 1990 that was to handicap his activities. Only through his strong willed nature and determination to overcome effects on speech, memory and mobility was he able to sustain his keen interest in all modelling matters over the past 12 years. Thanks to his wife Sheila, most of those handicaps were gradually overcome through her remarkable ability to interpret Alwyn's thoughts. He was able to ensure that all the models were well
maintained and packaged ready for the time when presentation in a secure establishment would provide a permanent, educational display covering the history of aeromodelling over the first fifty years.
Though a proud and very private man whose appearances at the Old Warden Vintage rallies with both original and his own replicas of famous models was always a rather startling revelation to the uninformed, Alwyn had for years been running his own campaign for air education. His lectures in schools, public halls and the theatres of
learned establislunents had shown progress from Penaud to the Wake fields of the 70s, from the Stanger engine of 1908 to the modern diesels. Hot air, compressed air, flapping wings or canards, they were all part of his remarkable tale, told with Lancastrian humour and interspersed with flights at head height above the bemused audience.
This ability to communicate the little understood aspects of aeromodelling stemmed largely from his own experience in life. Thankfully he noted his own personal reminiscences of the early days, and they paint a picture that will be familiar to many Septuagenarians, possibly even surprising to younger folk whose aeromodelling
experiences started with the postwar boom- or later. This is what he noted-
Aeromodelling beginnings 1930
"In 1930, when 1 was six, 1 started building models from firewood and scraps of tinplate. They were not to my liking! Father look me in hand and in December he bought a book titled 'The Model Aeroplane Manual' which cost him one shilling and sixpence.
This was edited by R. Langley and published by Percival Marshal & Co. of London. One of the models in it was 'The Beginners Tractor Monoplane' and father decided to make it in 1932. It did not fly very well.
During 1932/33 balsa wood was becoming useful and father was cutting it for The Balsa Wood Company in London. The first supply was 12 pieces of 3x3 in 3ft. long. Then in
1933 a book entitled 'Model aeroplanes simply explained' became available and it included the "Avis" (M. R. Knight's design) which flew very well, including impressive take-offs. "
"The next one my father built was a three foot span high wing own design and this was the beginning of my three-footers. By the end of 1933 father had joined the Manchester MAS and I became a member in March 1934, just 9.3 yrs old."
"The Wakefield Elimination Trials were at Warwick racecourse in June 1933 and for the following year a new Wakefield model was built and tested. Our family were taken by car from Bolton to the Fairey's Great West Aerodrome for the contest. Father did not qualify. The Manchester MAS became the Lancashire MAS and in July '34 my own Wakefield model was finished. It was to enter contests over the next three years and was identical to my fathers. Both models captured the Lancs MAS Cups and Trophies and my own was awarded the "Rio" silver cup in a competition to publicise the film "Flying Down to Rio" staring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. My Wakefield won it outright for the best duration at Barton Airport on September 16th 1934. The cup is inscribed - Winner, Alwyn Greenhalgh, age 10, Flying "Conquest II" Barton Airport."
"In the Farrow Shield contest the same year Lancs MAC had an outstanding victory. My score was 1,043 secs. C. S. Rushhrooke 376 secs and J. W. Kenworthy 119 secs. Both father and 1 decided to enter the 1936 Wakefield Trials at Heath Row, where I placed 2nd and qualified for the team."
That experience of the 11 yr old flyer sailing across to New York in the Aquitania, going by train to Buffalo then Lake steamer to Detroit, competing in the contest which was won by Bert Judge and returning on the SS Europa has been well recorded elsewhere. It was barely mentioned in Alwyn's notes!!
"Father and other local model flyers formed the Bolton MAS. We were flying in 1937 at Toye Farm, Afferside and meeting in the model shop run by my mother on the third floor of Shannons, a building on the corner of Great Moor Street and Newport Street in Bolton. We travelled by bus to fly at weekends with about 25-30 other flyers."
"Meanwhile my father, G. W. Greenhalgh had started his own woodworking firm firm from 1933 including cutting balsa wood and he bought Lomax's Garage in Holland Street. In 1937 he was making kits under the name "Grenwyn" with myself and father designing the models. Sweetens were distributing the kits trom Blackpool from '38 through to 1945. The "Grenwyn " Works moved in 1942 to 47 Queen Street, Farnworth and apart from the kits which included Sweetens rubber scale models, The firm was also involved in work for the government."
"Mrs. Greenhalgh moved her Model Depot shop from Shannons to number 6, Bold Street in 1938, buying the corner shop in '39. It was sold circa 1964 to Boydells."
These 3 entries are the obituary written from his Bolton School
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