It is a very great honour indeed to find myself addressing the Royal Aeronautical Society. If, as I am often told, “a little learning is a dangerous thing” then you are in for a very dangerous address. For much as I would like to say that I know nothing about aviation it would not be altogether true. My knowledge is of the picked-up rather than the learned variety. During the war I was either at the receiving end of enemy aviation or under a friendly and comforting umbrella, which counts as passive experience. I started flying as a passenger in about 1935, and in common with many others 1 have put up with all the frustrations and delays of airline travel, particularly getting to and from the airfields—this I put down to semi–active experience! The active part of my experience began two short years ago when I started to learn to fly.

From this you will gather that any views I express this evening must be treated with caution if nothing else.

The First Handley Page Memorial Lecture, organised jointly by the Cranfield Society and the Royal Aeronautical Society, was given by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, on 21st May 1963 before an audience of some 1500. The Chair was taken by Sir Harold Roxbee Cox, Ph.D., D.I.C., D.Sc, B.Sc.(Eng.), F.R.Ae.S., F.A.I.A.A, M.I.Mech.E., Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College of Aeronautics, and a Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Sir Harold Roxbee Cox said that the late Sir Frederick Handley Page was one of the greatest figures in British aviation. His was the unique achievement of creating his company in 1909 and leading it for over half a century until he died in 1962. Although always in touch with every phase of his company's work, he found time to serve the country in many other ways. They particularly remembered two of them that day. He was a Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and he was Chairman of the Governing Body of the College of Aeronautics. Both the Society, and the Cranfield Society of old students of the College, wished to honour his memory by the creation of the Handley Page Memorial Lecture, and they decided to do so in partnership. In the hope of starting the series with the maximum distinction they asked His Royal Highness if he would give the first Memorial Lecture. It was difficult adequately to express thanks to him for agreeing to do so, and it was with the feeling that they were all honoured to be present on this great occasion that he asked His Royal Highness now to deliver the first Handley Page Memorial Lecture.

It is, of course, a very great honour and pleasure for me to act as Honorary President of the Royal Aeronautical Society in its Centenary Year. This would be true even if I did not know the first thing about aviation but for someone who enjoys flying and takes a close interest in the whole subject of aeronautics this is a very special experience.

I have already been able to extend a very warm and cordial welcome to all the delegates attending this Congress but I want to repeat how delighted the Society is to have so many distinguished guests from abroad. Aeronautics is one of the few truly international activities right through from research and development to the carriage of passengers and freight all over the world.