8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 77 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v Long established family business • MOT TESTING • SERVICE & REPAIR FOR ALL MAKES AND MODELS • CLUTCHES • DIAGNOSTICS • CAMBELTS • SERVICE TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATION • FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY • USED CAR SALES 128-132 Calmore Road, Totton. SO40 8GQ 023 8086 4424 www.calmoreservicestation.co.uk Our knowledgeable staff are on hand to keep your vehicle on the road in a safe manner • We offer all garage services including free collection and delivery from your home • We now offer Dpf cleaning - Injector cleaning - Turbo cleaning and Air intake cleaning to help your car run cleaner improving its performance and economy. • Good Garage Scheme – RMI – Trust my Garage Member MOT’s, TYRES, CLUTCHES, CAMBELTS, SERVICING, WELDING, DIAGNOSTICS, LASER-TRACKING. CARS, VANS UP TO 3.5T, MOTORHOMES UP TO 30’ 023 8001 0029 Badminston Lane, Fawley, SO45 1BX 023 8001 0029 FLYING BEGINS AT CALSHOT by Colin van Geffen By the late 1890s the Army had been experimenting with man-li ing kites and observation balloons for many years, and some testing had been carried out by the Royal Flying Corps’ Balloon section at the northern end of Calshot Spit, away from populated areas, whilst making use of the estuary of Southampton Water, with its sheltered facilities to the east and west and by the Isle of Wight just a couple of miles to the south. e Navy was also experimenting with non-rigid designs too. Flying had already started at Calshot in 1910 at nearby Ower Farm, where Edwin Rowland Moon (1886 – 1920) tested his rst aircra – ‘Moonbeam’. ( ere will be more on ER Moon in future articles). In 1911 Italian aristocrat and inventor Guillermo Marconi, credited with being the inventor of radio, came to Eaglehurst, near Calshot to conclude his experiments of transmitting radio waves across water, using his yacht Elettra which was moored o Cowes. As a young child Marconi had lived with his Irish mother in Bedford. He did not receive formal education, but was privately tutored in mathematics, physics and chemistry, at home. At the age of 17 Marconi was encouraged to ‘sit in’ on lectures including new theories on electricity at the University of Bologna. In 1896, having been unable to raise any interest in his wireless radio inventions within the Italian Ministry of Post and Telegraphs, the 21-year-old Marconi returned In 1913 Calshot became a Naval Air Station serving the Royal Flying Corps under the auspices of the Admiralty. It continued to host an amazing number of di erent aircra of the RNAS and the RAF until the mid-1950s and Calshot has regularly welcomed other aircra as visitors over the years following the departure of the RAF in 1961. With ying very much in its infancy, aircra manufacturers had begun to develop machines that could be operated from water, and it was not long before the waters of the Solent were ‘home’ to some of these frail cra , like the Farman Hydroplane, own by Mr Claude Graham-White to publicise his concerns about the lack of political interest in military aviation; and the Sopwith Bat Boat. Another early aircra to be seen at Calshot was the Short S41 Navy seaplane, this machine was also used in experiments using wheels, as well as oats. e Wight ‘PUSHER’ seaplane was a single build, and was enlarged and developed several times in attempts to overcome handling problems. Calshot’s life as an aircra experimental and development unit had begun. 1911 pioneer aviator Claude Graham White arriving at Calshot in his Farman Hydroplane named ‘Wake Up Britain’ (Colin van Geffen collection) Sopwith Bat Boat at Calshot 1913 (Colin van Geffen Collection) to England to develop and promote his wireless radio invention, making his rst demonstration of his invention to members of the British government in July that year. Building on small but gradual successes Marconi continued his experiments across the south of England, including on Salisbury Plain. In May 1897 he made the rst ever transmission across water, over a 3.7 mile stretch of the Bristol Channel between Flat Holm Island to Lavernock Point, near Cardi . Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society Present: Home, I’m Darling Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society’s next production is ‘Home, I’m Darling’ by Laura Wade, winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Judy and Johnny lead a 50s lifestyle, complete with the clothes, decor and appliances. She stays at home while Johnny works as an estate agent. But behind the gingham curtains, being a domestic goddess isn’t as easy as it looks. is witty and sometimes poignant comedy explores gender roles and the right of women to choose how they live their lives - even if this is as a perfect housewife! Home, I’m Darling will be on stage at Vernon eatre, Sandy Lane, Lyndhurst, SO43 7DN, on 29th, 30th and 31st October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £13 and available from Lyndhurstdrama.co.uk or call: 023 8029 2531.
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