Mair Calland’s late husband Eric won his wings as a pilot in 1936 at the age of 17 and spent much of the next three years in the flying circuses that were hugely popular in the holiday resorts of the North Wales coast.
Mair, 83, contacted the organisers of the show, which takes place on Saturday, August 8, after seeing the story about the Team Guinot Wing Walkers who are flying at the Rhyl show.
She said: “Eric used to fly in wing-walking display teams and when I saw it in the paper I though it would be good to commemorate the old pioneers of flying.”
The couple moved to Prestatyn in 1950 and opened a driving school. But Eric’s first love was flying. Mair added: “He was fascinated by planes when he was young and his parents paid for lessons at the old Speke airport near Liverpool.
“He flew from Speke and Hooton and in the flying circuses. He loved the old days of flying when it was all on a wing and a prayer. He was one of the pilots that used to fly people off Rhyl beach for five shillings a time.
“When the war started he became a cadet officer in the RAF until 1944, when he was seconded to Rolls Royce in Crewe to develop Merlin engines.”
The couple married that year after meeting the year before in Brom-borough where Mair, originally from Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, was working as a governess.
Eric, who died five years ago, would have loved to see an airshow at Rhyl, said Mair. “It’s a lovely gesture to make me the guest of honour and I know Eric would have been so happy.”
