Tragic event that took Britain’s first lady pilot
WITH reference to Debra Wallace’s letter about aeronaut, parachutist and early aviator Edith Maud Cook (Sep 11).
She touches on the fact that there were other lady parachutists. Indeed, it was something of ‘must have’ for fetes and galas up and down the country. And Coventry was not to be left out of this craze.
The idea of entertaining the crowds with this new vogue entailed filling a balloon with hot air and the parachutist being carried to a couple of thousand feet in the attached basket before leaping out and theoretically landing as close to the gawping crowd as possible. If the parachutist was female, there was added interest.
It should be noted that the means by which this was done meant that, at one end, the parachute was lightly attached and already opened to about a quarter of the way up the side of the ascending balloon.
At the other end to the person who was about to leap out of the basket, an assistant would then deflate the balloon slowly back down to earth. Having the parachute so attached allowed the parachutist to leap clear of the basket without the risk of snagging; the chute was not packed as it might have been today – that was invented some time in the future.
In 1910, at the annual Lillywhite Sports in Foleshill, ironically the 13th such event, the committee decided that an alternative attraction for the crowd would be one such piece of theatre. The weather was fine and clear for the first time in years, facilitating excellent viewing for the crowd. This display replaced the traditional cricket match for which the sports had been founded, the participants dressed in whites and top hats.
To save a few bob, the organisers tapped into the gas main from the Folehill Road which was then suitably attached to a device which ignited the gas to provide the huge amount of hot air required to inflate the balloon. Whether this means of inflation had a bearing on subsequent events is not known.
The parachutist, Miss Viola Spencer, was very experienced in this type of demonstration, performing at shows around the country. When she reached ‘a considerable height’, she made a successful jump from the basket but a breeze picked up and drifted her towards the city centre where ‘the chute became inoperable, snagging on a building causing the lady to fall injuring herself seriously.’
She died as a result of her injuries, unbeknown to the people in Foleshill, where the sports continued as planned. Colin Kirkham Allesley
I won’t be using my food waste caddy
RE: ‘True cost of new bins double what council first claimed, Sep 8). What a complete waste of taxpayers’ money – £190,000.
It beggars belief that whoever instigated this ridiculous scheme is still in a job. I for one, and thousands of others I suspect, will not be using mine. I don’t buy food to waste.
It would be better to educate people to only buy what they need. If the council would like to take mine back, they are welcome. The lid doesn’t fit, there is a quarter-inch gap all round. It would be infested with flies and maggots and stink.
On the brighter side, it will make a nice plant pot! KJ Clarke Wyken
We’re so fortunate to have 999 crews
MS Lucy Lynch has highlighted the appalling criticism and attacks on members of the West Midlands Fire and Ambulance Services (Sep 8).
During my time on the Fire and Rescue Authority, I repeatedly heard of the great courage and dedication of our firefighters.
When I needed urgent medical help some years ago, the Ambulance First Responders were at our house before my wife had even finished the 999 call. I was on my way to University Hospital in Walsgrave within minutes.
Both services deserve great universal respect. I can make direct comparison with various countries where I served and we are all so fortunate to be safeguarded by such fine people. Councillor David Skinner (Con) Westwood Ward