Remember Renfrew Airport Memorial? Here, where a supermarket and a school stand today, once lay the bustling heart of Scotland’s civil aviation. This memorial commemorates that significant past.
Renfrew Airport played a pivotal role in shaping Scotland’s aviation history. The Royal Burgh of Renfrew and its citizens were proud to be part of it. But let’s jump back to the beginning.
In 1910, J.G. Weir used a field in Renfrew for flying experiments. During World War I, the Royal Flying Corps established a base here. After the war, Weirs and Beardmores started using the aerodrome. This marked the birth of civil aviation in Scotland.
The Air Ambulance Service and City of Glasgow No. 602 Squadron were also formed during this period. Renfrew Aerodrome expanded steadily. It was honored in 1933 as the first municipal airport in Scotland.
During World War II, Renfrew Airport played a significant role. Afterward, civil aviation resumed and expanded rapidly. British European Airways made their base at Renfrew. Many other carriers also moved in.
But Renfrew Airport was the friendliest and safest airport in Britain. Yet, demand outstripped available space. The airport closed in 1966.
The sleek, state-of-the-art terminal building designed by William Kininmonth in 1954 boasted an eye-catching parabola at the entrance. Some ranked it alongside Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art in terms of architectural importance. Its curved roof, white walls and sculptural pillars created a space-age feel.
The memorial we see today consists of two parts. There is a sculpture of a military delta-winged plane and a plinth with an inscription. The sculpture is now damaged and missing its tail.
The inscription reads: “This sculpture was dedicated on the 25th October 1997 to commemorate the former Renfrew Airport and all those people who made its history possible.” It details the airport’s history, from its early days to its closure.
Renfrew’s link to the Scottish Air Ambulance Service is particularly noteworthy. Until 1966, when services transferred to Glasgow Airport, Renfrew provided a vital link to the Highlands and Islands. Seriously ill patients were transported to hospitals in Glasgow. This saved countless lives.
The memorial’s restoration included stones from various islands served by the air ambulance teams. These include Islay, Skye, and Benbecula.
The monument also pays tribute to the men and women of the SAAS who operated from Renfrew Airport. It recognizes the sacrifice made by Captain T.M. Calderwood, radio officer H. McGinlay, and nursing sister J. Kennedy. They lost their lives in service on September 28, 1957.
The first recorded flight of the Scottish Air Ambulance Service was from Renfrew to Islay on May 14, 1933. Pilot Jimmy Orrell flew to collect seriously ill fisherman John McDermid. A nurse from Glasgow, Mrs. Ferguson, happened to be on holiday on Islay. She offered to travel back with John. Ninety minutes later, John underwent a life-saving operation in Glasgow.
As the 1950s progressed, the public’s desire for foreign holidays grew rapidly. Renfrew Airport became too small to handle the extra demand. On April 30, 1966, all services transferred to what is now Glasgow Airport.
Although the airport is gone, this Renfrew Airport Memorial stands as a reminder. It ensures that all who were a part of the service are appropriately recognized. It connects us to a time when Renfrew was the cradle of civil aviation in Scotland.