Clitterhouse Farm and the Memories Local History Group hosted a special history event to celebrate Handley Page‘s connection to Cricklewood at Whitefield School on Friday, 18 March.
Handley Page was an innovative aircraft design and manufacturing company based in Cricklewood between 1912 and the early 1960s. It is also associated with the the start of civil aviation between 1919 and 1929 at Cricklewood Aerodrome, which is now the Golders Green Estate.
Speakers included:
- Rob Langham, author of the recently published book, Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War.
- Peter Elliot, Head of Archives at the RAF Museum in Hendon.
- Peter Hart, oral historian from the Imperial War Museum.
- Mary Bennett, Golders Green Estate resident with childhood memories of Cricklewood Aerodrome. You can see Mary Bennett talk about the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration and our local history in the Whitefield BBC School Report 2016 (Minute 9.25-16.25).

Thomas Ball, from Clitterhouse Farm Project, presenting Peter Hart and Rob Langham with Cricklewood’s own brewed beer.

Peter Elliot’s presentation on the Handley Page Collection held at the RAF Museum.

Our own Mary Bennett’s memories gave the night the human touch.