Arthur Edward George Arthur Edward George ( 17 June 1875 – 8 September 1951 ) was an accomplished sportsman , an aviation pioneer , aircraft designer , racing driver , engineer and businessman . He served in the Second Boer War ( in the British Cape Colony armed forces ) , in World War I and in World War II , and was awarded the Silver medal of the Royal Aero Club posthumously for his " Services to aviation over 50 years " . Early life . Arthur Edward George was born in Fordington , near Dorchester , Dorset , England on 17 June 1875 ; his family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne while he was a child . He was a talented athlete , being a swimmer , figure skater and racing cyclist at international level . After serving an engineering apprentice ship in Newcastle , he lived for some time in South Africa , where he became national cycling champion and represented South Africa at the 1899 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Montreal , Canada . He served with the Cape Colony Cyclist Corps from 07 Jan . 1901 until 12 May 1902 in the Second Boer War , receiving the Queen ' s South Africa Medal with three clasps . On his attestation ( joining - up ) form he is described as being " Age : 23 ( ? ) , Nationality : English , Trade : Cycle Mechanic , Height : 5 ft 10½in , Weight : 150 lbs , Chest : 38in , Complexion : Fair , Eyes : Blue , Hair : Black , Character : Very good . " It was noted that he " Supplies own bicycle " . Later life . In 1902 , having returned to England , he formed the company George and Jobling in Newcastle upon Tyne with Robert ( " Bob " ) Lee Jobling . In 1904 the company moved to premises which had previously been used by Robert Stephenson and Company , which it was to occupy for 60 years . George and Jobling first manufactured bicycles and later motor vehicles and automobile bodywork . It also sold motor vehicles and was an agent for many manufacturers . In addition to its coachbuilding business , George & Jobling sold motor vehicles and was an agent for many manufacturers , including Argyll , Darracq , Hillman , Ford and Fordson . Between 1907 and 1970 , the firm had branches in Hexham , Glasgow , Darlington , Bowness and Leeds and is credited with inventing the forerunner of the trolley - jack and the breakdown - truck . It became well known as ' expert witnesses ' in court cases involving serious motoring accidents . George was a keen racing driver and competed at home and in mainland Europe in road races , hill climbs and sand racing . He achieved third place driving a Darracq in the 1908 RAC Tourist Trophy race , during which he also set the fastest lap time , and won many races in a stripped - down Ford Model T at Brooklands and Saltburn . This same car was later fitted with a polished brass body and became known as the ' Golden Ford ' , which is still preserved . During the National Strike of 1926 , he was involved in driving newspapers from Newcastle to London . " In August 1909 George became an active member of the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom and learned to fly on a Voisin biplane called " Bird of Passage " which he had bought from J . T . C . Moore - Brabazon , holder of Aviator ' s Certificate no . 1 ; he later sold the " Bird of Passge " to Cecil Grace . He designed and built his own aeroplane , which featured hollow spars , a steerable tail - wheel and unique ' triplicate control column which controlled not only roll and pitch but also yaw . The control column has been preserved and is on display at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne . On 6 September 1910 he gained Aviator ' s Certificate no . 19 flying this prototype aircraft . Front and side elevation views of his aircraft , which was displayed at the Olympia Exhibion in 1910 , can be found in the Flight Magazine archive . Later the same year he crashed it at an Air display in Newcastle ; his application to the banks for more funds to continue designing and building aircraft was refused on the grounds that it was too dangerous ; after this setback , he concentrated his efforts on customising and selling cars . He nevertheless took an active interest in flying throughout his life : he was a leading member of the Newcastle upon Tyne Aero Club ; he obtained his Civil Aviation Class A Pilot ' s Licence in 1935 and his Class A glider pilot ' s licence in 1937 ; in World War II he served from July 1939 until November 1940 as Commanding Officer of 131 Tyneside Squadron , Air Defence Cadet Corps . A . E . George volunteered for military service in World War I , rising to the rank of ( temporary ) Major in the Northumberland Motor Volunteer Corps . - - > Between the wars he pursued his business , sporting and flying interests , serving again in World War II as Commanding Officer of the local Air Defence Cadet Corps between 1939 and 1940 , followed by volunteer service in both the Home Guard and the Royal Navy . On 8 September 1951 George died of cancer in Bingley , Yorkshire , aged 76 . His funeral was held in Newcastle and was attended by local dignitaries , representatives of the aviation world and previous employees . The local RAF Air Cadets performed a fly - past over the funeral ceremony . In honour of his services to aviation , the Royal Aero Club awarded him a posthumous Silver Medal .