The Day Air Aces Came To The Races
By Roger Morgan
On Thursday 14th May 1914, in glorious weather, the residents of Hethersett were treated to a thrilling air display by two of Britain’s most celebrated aviation pioneers, Bentfield Charles Hucks and Marcus Dyce Manton. Benny Hucks, as he was better known, flew his 80 HP Bleriot monoplane in a series of spectacular manoeuvres in the skies above the race goers at Hethersett racecourse. He performed his usual steeple-chasing and vertical banks, and afterwards he gave four passenger flights. After tea he carried out many of his trademark loop the loops and flew upside down.
Hucks was joined in the show by his young protégé, 19 year old Marcus Manton who was known as “The Wonderful Boy Aviator”. At 7 p.m. the new looping machine was brought out, and Manton was strapped in. He rose to 3000ft. before doing an amazing “S” dive followed by a loop. He landed after completing several more loops. The pair performed the same programme on Friday and Saturday giving a combined demonstration of trick flying which was met with huge enthusiasm from the crowd. They also had a cross-country race to Trowse Viaduct which Manton won by a few yards.
In August 1914 B C Hucks joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and was quickly posted to the Western Front. He flew a number of raids over enemy lines but he was soon struck by an attack of pleurisy which made him unfit for aerial fighting. He was sent home where he became a test pilot for an aircraft manufacturer at Hendon in North West London. Sadly, on the 7th November 1918, just 4 days before the end of the Great War, he died of double pneumonia aged 34.
During the First World War Marcus Manton continued working as a test pilot and flying instructor. On 11 December 1915 he married Mrs. Ruby Marguerite Paramor née Goodwin. After the war Manton worked with a number of commercial companies including English Electric Company. He subsequently became their chief inspector at Lytham. During the Second World War he was a service liaison officer with Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company and post-war he worked with Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Company. Marcus Dyce Manton died on 15th April 1968 aged 75.
Hethersett racecourse was situated on land between Thickthorn Hall and Hethersett railway station. The inaugural meeting was held there on Friday 23rd March 1888 and was organised by the local Hussars. The 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment enjoyed racing and regularly held meetings while they were in the area. Racing returned to Hethersett in 1904 when the Norwich Hunt took over the administration. They held meetings for the next 10 years until the start of WW1 in July 1914.
In 1927 the land, around 120 acres, on which the course was based was sold to Mr R J Read. His plan was to run meetings called ‘Hethersett Races’. The first meeting organised by the new Hethersett Race committee was held on Thursday 8th March 1928. The meetings continued and they were always well supported by the locals. The races were very competitive and often had large fields. The last races held under rules were on Thursday 4th May 1939 when WW2 put a stop to them.
Racing didn’t start again immediately after the war and the course was taken over by the Norwich Staghounds. They held point to point races for the ten years between 1953 and 1963. The final meeting took place in 1970. Sadly the course is no longer visible and is now covered by a number of fields.
On Thursday 14th May 1914, in glorious weather, the residents of Hethersett were treated to a thrilling air display by two of Britain’s most celebrated aviation pioneers, Bentfield Charles Hucks and Marcus Dyce Manton. Benny Hucks, as he was better known, flew his 80 HP Bleriot monoplane in a series of spectacular manoeuvres in the skies above the race goers at Hethersett racecourse. He performed his usual steeple-chasing and vertical banks, and afterwards he gave four passenger flights. After tea he carried out many of his trademark loop the loops and flew upside down.
Hucks was joined in the show by his young protégé, 19 year old Marcus Manton who was known as “The Wonderful Boy Aviator”. At 7 p.m. the new looping machine was brought out, and Manton was strapped in. He rose to 3000ft. before doing an amazing “S” dive followed by a loop. He landed after completing several more loops. The pair performed the same programme on Friday and Saturday giving a combined demonstration of trick flying which was met with huge enthusiasm from the crowd. They also had a cross-country race to Trowse Viaduct which Manton won by a few yards.
In August 1914 B C Hucks joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and was quickly posted to the Western Front. He flew a number of raids over enemy lines but he was soon struck by an attack of pleurisy which made him unfit for aerial fighting. He was sent home where he became a test pilot for an aircraft manufacturer at Hendon in North West London. Sadly, on the 7th November 1918, just 4 days before the end of the Great War, he died of double pneumonia aged 34.
During the First World War Marcus Manton continued working as a test pilot and flying instructor. On 11 December 1915 he married Mrs. Ruby Marguerite Paramor née Goodwin. After the war Manton worked with a number of commercial companies including English Electric Company. He subsequently became their chief inspector at Lytham. During the Second World War he was a service liaison officer with Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company and post-war he worked with Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Company. Marcus Dyce Manton died on 15th April 1968 aged 75.
Hethersett racecourse was situated on land between Thickthorn Hall and Hethersett railway station. The inaugural meeting was held there on Friday 23rd March 1888 and was organised by the local Hussars. The 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment enjoyed racing and regularly held meetings while they were in the area. Racing returned to Hethersett in 1904 when the Norwich Hunt took over the administration. They held meetings for the next 10 years until the start of WW1 in July 1914.
In 1927 the land, around 120 acres, on which the course was based was sold to Mr R J Read. His plan was to run meetings called ‘Hethersett Races’. The first meeting organised by the new Hethersett Race committee was held on Thursday 8th March 1928. The meetings continued and they were always well supported by the locals. The races were very competitive and often had large fields. The last races held under rules were on Thursday 4th May 1939 when WW2 put a stop to them.
Racing didn’t start again immediately after the war and the course was taken over by the Norwich Staghounds. They held point to point races for the ten years between 1953 and 1963. The final meeting took place in 1970. Sadly the course is no longer visible and is now covered by a number of fields.