This photograph of the Duke of Kent climbing out of the fuselage of an HP42 was taken as he opened Radlett Airfield on July 7, 1930.

Chris Scivyer, vice-chairman of the Handley Page Association, sent in this piece about the history of the airfield and the company.

“Radlett Aerodrome has been in the local press rather a lot over the past few years as the proposed site for an international rail freight terminal.

“The reference to Radlett Aerodrome confused a number of people into thinking that the proposed development site was actually the other side of Radlett at the current Elstree Aerodrome.

“If you have always lived in the area, this may seem a little odd. But you have to remember that the site formally ceased to be an airfield in 1970 – that is 40 years ago. For those of you still unsure, the airfield sat to the east of the A5183, running from the A405 at the St Albans end to just south of the M25 at Colney Street and was bordered on the eastern side by London – Bedford – Nottingham railway line. The airfield was largely screened by houses and industrial buildings in Park Street, Frogmore and Colney Street.

“So why an airfield here? To a certain extent chance played a big part in an airfield being developed here.

“In the mid-1920s, Jim Cordes, who worked as chief test pilot for the Handley Page Aircraft Company, was ferrying an aircraft from northern England to the company’s Cricklewood base, navigating following the railway line.

“As Cordes flew past St Albans, visibility deteriorated and he took the decision to land in a field alongside the railway and continue his journey the next day. This sort of thing was quite common in those days.

“Sometime later, Frederick Handley Page, who had established the company back in 1909, was talking to Cordes about the need for the company to develop a new airfield outside London. The Cricklewood site was being encroached upon by new housing making flying difficult.

“Cordes remembered that he had landed near Colney Street and that the site was flat and open, making it ideal for an airfield. By June 1929, the site had been purchased and the first assembly hangar was under construction at the Colney Street end of the site. Initially aircraft flew out of the field close to the hangar, after first removing the sheep grazing in the field. The airfield was officially opened the Duke of Kent on July 7, 1930.

“Over the next 40 years, the airfield expanded, firstly with longer grass runways and then concrete runways to cope with larger aircraft in World War Two. The main runway had to be extended in the 1950s to take the Victor bomber.

“The manufacturing area at Colney Street was expanded and aircraft testing facilities provided in Frogmore. The Frogmore site is now covered by Curo Park housing and light industrial units. None of the original buildings exist today but there is a plaque commemorating the company on the modern day industrial park at Colney Street.

“Over the years, hundreds of aircraft were constructed at the airfield – including Heyford, Harrow, Heracles, Hampden, Halifax, Hastings, Hermes, Victor, Herald and Jetstream. In 1946 and 1947, the airfield hosted the Society of British Aircraft Companies Show, which today is held at Farnborough in Hampshire.

“Today the airfield has reverted back to grazing sheep – long may it continue.

“If you want to find out more about Handley Page Ltd, its people and aircraft, the Handley Page Association is holding its annual Night of Nostalgia on October 22 at Bricket Wood Social Club, Oak Road, Bricket Wood.

“Starting at 8pm, there will be hundreds of photographs and items of memorabilia featuring Handley Page aircraft, employees and Radlett, Park Street and Cricklewood. Everyone is welcome, whether you worked at Handley Page, knew someone who did or are just interested to learn more about local history.”