The story of Woodley Aerodrome
From Grass Runways to Aviation Legends
Join us for a captivating journey into the skies as we explore the remarkable history of Woodley Aerodrome—once a quiet field, later a powerhouse of British aviation. Discover how this Berkshire airfield became home to Miles Aircraft, trained wartime pilots, and even hosted secretive test flights that shaped the future of flight.Â
This is the first of three talks in the Heritage Talks Series. The other talks take place on 19th February and the 19th March. You may book tickets for any talk individually or for all three in the series for a reduced price. Â
Please note the Centre’s face-to-face talks are now being held at a new venue – Reading’s Abbey Baptist Church. The full address of the church is given to the right. The venue has disabled access and a disabled toilet. The talk begins at the slightly later time than previously of 2.30pm.Â
Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available. Â
Image: Alan Wilson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
To book, scroll down.
Date
- Thu 15 Jan 2026
Time
- 14:30 - 15:45
Tickets
- £5.00
Location
- Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE
Category
Organiser
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The Centre - Berkshire FHS
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Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
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Dr Richard MarksIndustrial, Military and Railway HistorianRichard is a published historian based in Berkshire who specialises in industrial, military, and railway history and also the history of science. His current areas of research are industrial development in the Victorian period, the development of the railway and canal systems in Britain in the mid to late 19th Century and the history of British Rail. He has a PhD in economic history. Richard’s books on British Rail Engineering and the Wantage Tramway Company were both both published by Pen and Sword in 2024.