A local author, who has published a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of a famous Burton air show, will be presenting a copy to Mayor of East Staffordshire Councillor Geoff Morrison next week.

John Redfern, who lives in South Derbyshire and used to teach at Burton?s Paget High School, has been busy researching the lives of the French and Belgium pilots that took part in Burton?s 1910 Aviation Week air show.

The event, which drew in more than 30,000 visitors to Burton from across the country, was the first air show of the time to make a profit, which was then used to buy the Mayoress? Chain of Office, which is still used today.

Mr Redfern is a volunteer at the Magic Attic, a local history resource centre based in Swadlincote, and has already published books on the history of Swadlincote and World War One soldiers, said he found researching the Burton event „fascinating?.

“In 1909 Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel and suddenly everyone wanted to be a pilot,” he explained.

“Air shows were taking place all over the country but Burton?s was historic as it was the first to turn a profit and it put the town on the map.

“The pilots were mostly French as the organisers couldn?t afford English ones, and they included French nobleman Paul de Lesseps and Helene Dutrieu who was one of the first female pilots. She caused a bit of a stir when she admitted she flew without wearing her corset!

“People came from all over to see these magnificent men and women in their flying machines, even from as far as Norfolk; it really was a major event in the history of the town.”

Mr Redfern will be presenting a copy of his book – entitled „Burton Aviation Week 1910?- to the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs Morrison, on Friday, March 26th.

Councillor Morrison said: “I am delighted that this amazing part of Burton?s history has been committed to print by such a dedicated and enthusiastic writer and I look forward to reading about the event that provided the Council with such a wonderful keepsake in the form of the Mayoress? Chain.”

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