Geoffrey de Havilland 1882—1965
Authors: Clarkson R. M. 
Published: July 2016

The First Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Memorial Lecture was given by Mr. R. M. Clarkson, OBE, BSc, FCGI, CEng, FRAeS, on 16th November 1966 at the Hatfield College of Technology, under the auspices of the Hatfield Branch of the Society, before a large and distinguished audience. The Lecture followed the official opening by Mr. A. D. Baxter, MEng, CEng, FRAeS, President of the Society, of the new supersonic wind tunnel and the dedication of the Geoffrey de Havilland Aeronautical Laboratories at the College.

Air Commodore F. R. Banks, CB, OBE, CEng, CGIA, HonFAIAA, HonFRAeS, RAF (retd), President of the Hatfield Branch and a Vice-President of the Society, opened the meeting by welcoming the guests and then handed over to Mr. Baxter who took the Chair for the rest of the meeting.

Mr. Baxter began by announcing that three of the major awards of the Royal Aeronautical Society for 1966—its Centenary Year—were to three members of Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Hatfield: —Honorary Fellowship of the Society to Air Cdre. F. R. Banks, Assistant Managing Director and Chief Executive (Civil); the Society's Silver Medal to Mr. J. P. Smith, Executive Director and Chief Engineer; and the British Gold Medal for Aeronautics to Mr. R. M. Clarkson, Executive Director, Research, and this First Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Memorial Lecturer.

Mr. Baxter then said that the establishment of a new memorial lecture was an important matter. It meant that they recognised a great man, that he had given something unique to aviation and that he was worthy of having his name perpetuated. Sir Geoffrey was truly one of the great pioneers of aviation—designer, constructor and pilot of his own aircraft from before the First World War until after the Second. And what a wonderful character he had —it was not surprising that those who worked for him regretted that his name no longer adorned the great enterprise that sprang from his interest and genius. There must be many present who knew him better than he had done, but he would just like to say that, in his opinion, never was a memorial lecture more deservedly named than this one at Hatfield.

For the benefit of those who had not been present earlier, the President said that this was a double occasion. The Hatfield College of Technology had named its Aeronautical Laboratories after Sir Geoffrey, so on this day two memorials to Sir Geoffrey were being established which would ensure that his name and great work in aviation were always remembered. He was sure everyone would wish him to congratulate the College on the name it had selected for its new Laboratories and also to thank it for its co-operation with the Hatfield Branch of the Society which had made this double event possible that day.

This First Memorial Lecture to Sir Geoffrey de Havilland was to be given by Mr. R. M. Clarkson; to most of them, he was sure, he needed no introduction and he believed too, that no one was more appropriate or better able to present this Memorial Lecture than Richard Clarkson. He had joined the Technical Department of the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1925 and became chief of the Aerodynamics Department in 1935. From then until 1958 he was in charge of all aerodynamic development of every DH type of aircraft. He became a Director of the Company in 1952 and in 1958 was appointed Research Director. He was sure that he would give them a better picture of the great D.H. than almost anyone else could.