It is customary to begin lectures of this kind with reference to the person after whom the lecture is named. I do so with particular relish on this occasion.

This is because I spent most of my working life at The City University, formerly The Northampton Polytechnic, with which Sir Frederick Handley Page was closely associated throughout his working life.

The results of a little archival work reveal that in June 1909 a class in aeronautics was arranged for the following session. As it turned out, the momentous event of 1910 was the appointment of a Mr Frederick Handley Page to be lecturer in aeronautics to attend for two evenings per week at £75 for the session.

Not surprisingly the subject was a great success at the Northampton, and 81 years later at The City University, it still is.