More Ely Racecourse History
o
More Ely Racecourse History
Dear What’s On readers,
It was great to see in last month’s What’s On Ely racecourse being highlighted.
Steve Jones and myself wrote three books on the history of Ely, Caerau and Michaelston Super Ely back in the 1990’s. The racecourse hosted a number of historical events as well as horse racing. In fact, as our book and the Western Mail detailed on 22nd September 1911 ‘History was made in Ely near Cardiff on Saturday and it is difficult to estimate the far-reaching significance of what took place. Mr H Grindell-Matthews, the inventor of the aerophone, succeeded under almost the worst conditions possible in establishing communication by wireless telephony with an aeroplanist careering through the air, 700 feet high, in strong wind and rain and at a speed equal to an express train Mr B.C Hucks is also very much elated at being the first airman to take part in wireless telephony’. The next day Hucks was back at the racecourse giving a flying display charging 1 shilling entrance.
In 1920 and 1931 grand flying weeks took place on the racecourse and Pat O Hara made a 1,000-foot parachute jump from the airliner Prince Henry as well as walking the wings in mid-air displays.
Another ground-breaking event took place on 14 October 1919 when ‘a large company gathered at Ely racecourse to witness the navigation of the Cardiff- London-Paris aviation (mail) service of Messrs S Instone and Co., A letter was handed to the pilot, Lieut, Barnard, from the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce to the Paris Chamber of Commerce. The plane took off and rose beautifully against the wind and after circling Sweldon Farm a couple of times and doing a few stunts the pilot and his mechanic were away on their long trip’.
The racecourse also has a roman villa and hosted events such as sheep dog trials, international athletics, church and sporting events and motocross.
Ely has a fascinating and proud history of which the racecourse is just one aspect!
Nigel Billingham, Church Rise.