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There is a grave in a small Shropshire churchyard, and a beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the memory of a world famous aviator from Craven Arms.

Edward Hotchkiss was the son of a Ludlow brewer, and initially went into the same career. Then he saw an aeroplane at the May Fair in Craven Arms – and he fell in love.

Within a few months he was training as a pilot and he proved to be such an inspired flier he got his pilot’s licence very quickly, in fact he was the 87th person in the country to achieve this. Edward was taken on as a test pilot for the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

1n 1912 Hotchkiss took a Coanda Monoplane on manoeuvres on the Salisbury Plain. He was partnered with another experienced pilot called Claude Bettington. Edward was coming in to land at Port Meadow, Oxford. He was flying at 2,000 feet but there was a thunderstorm. He brought the plane down to 600 feet when a steel strap broke, causing the wing to break off and Hotchkiss and Bettington plunged to the earth.

Both men were killed but their bravery and gallantry lives on.

Location: Craven Arms, Shrewsbury Road, Shropshire SY7 9PY
Image: The hearse at Edward Hotchkiss’ funeral, courtesy of ATD Evans

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