James Radley (1884-1959), early aviator
1884 April 4th. Born the son of James Radley, a colliery owner, and his wife Fanny Prescott Radley, at Dunmow Hall, Slaidburn in Yorkshire.
Radley started as a racing driver
1901 Living at 2 Linden Road, Bedford: Fanny P. Radley (age 53 born Middleton, Lancs.), Widow living on own means. With her two children; Honora C. Radley (age 20 born Staidburn); and James Radley (age 17 born Staidburn), Engineer's Pupil. Three servants.[1]
1910 April. Flew eleven circuits covering a distance of sixteen miles in just under twenty-three minutes in a Bleriot. Only been flying for eleven days.[2]
1910 May. Advertisement. James Radley to give a flying exhibition at Bedford Polo Ground with two Bleriot monoplanes..[3]
1910 June 14th. Gained his aviators certificate (No 12)
1910 June Flew his Bleriot XI at the first aviation meeting held in Scotland at Pollokshaws, Glasgow making seven flights.[4]
1910 October. Flew in the United States, winning the cross-country aviation race at Belmont Park in New York. Radley covered 20 miles in 19 minutes and 46 seconds, an American speed record.[5]
1911 Lodging at the George Hotel, Huntingdon: James Radley (age 28 born Slaidburn). Also present were William Moorhouse and Cyril McCatha.[6]
1911 Entered the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race and was to use an Antoinette monoplane, but he failed to start.
1911 Formed Portholme Aerodrome
1912 July. Won a cross-country balloon race where he achieved a distance of 132 miles from Hurlingham.
1913 Circuit of Britain race: Radley in co-operation with Eric Cecil Gordon England designed and built the Radley-England water-plane to take place in the 1913 race. It was damaged before the race and did not complete, the aircraft was subsequently modified and re-built.
1912 Radley entered a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost into the 1912 Austrian Alpine Trial and he also competed in 1913 and 1914.
1959 Died at his home at Woodgreen, Hampshire.