I saw this plaque today and, as usual, realised how much I don’t I know. The picture isn’t mine: it’s on the Ranger’s house but he was at home and I didn’t like to intrude.
“By the start of 1916, Wimbledon was one of ten Royal Flying Corps airfields employed to defend London. Two Royal Aircraft Factory BE2cs of No 19 Reserve Squadron (a training unit) were based at each of the ten sites – the unit was to become No 39 Squadron (a frontline unit) in April 1916. This was a major development in the history of Home Defence operations during WW1, and one very good reason why the Trust wished to establish a plaque here. The lead airfield in this particular scheme was Hounslow, later Britain’s first airport and where ABCT unveiled a full-sized memorial in April 2016.
Nos 39 and 141 Squadrons subsequently had use of the landing ground; by 1918 it served as a 3rd Class Night Landing Ground (NLG) for Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) fighters, meaning that it had more in the way of restricted landing approaches for visiting aircraft.
Airfields such as Wimbledon proved invaluable in other ways, due to the vagaries of aircraft of the period plus the fact pilots were not allowed to use parachutes. Although unfortunately very badly documented, they undoubtedly saved many lives, not to mention played a most significant part in the winning of WW1 through overcoming and/or at least proving a major deterrent against the enemy aerial threat, whether Zeppelins or latterly also fixed-wing aircraft such as Gotha bombers. The airfield was dismantled soon after The Armistice.“ (Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust)
The signage on the Common has changed. Dogs must be kept on leads 9.00 am to 7.00 pm, previously for 24 hours, and on benches, a caveat that they have not been sanitised and may only be shared with a member of your household. Wimbledon benches are less than two metres wide.
Good news: our cleaner will be en poste on Monday. Bad news: our cleaner will know how slovenly we are.
The Hurlingham Club cricket ground is being used as a heliport for air ambulances during the crisis. I wonder if they will erect a plaque. We are no longer woken by jumbo jets but helicopters delivering their unfortunate passengers to awaiting ambulances. The numbers are decreasing daily.
Beware of the park bench as you know not the hand that lay on the arm rest before yours.
Re the thought about the cleaner knowing your habits: to note the obvious, the current circumstances and rhythms of life are not typical, by any means — and thus, perhaps, neither is one’s slovenliness (or so I tell myself). But, also, your cleaner may agree that it’s always nice to feel needed.