Some exciting new artefacts relating to the internationally renowned flier Amy Johnson have gone on display at Sewerby Hall Museum near Bridlington.
The first item is a leather belt worn by Amy in the latter stages of her historic flight to Australia in May, 1930. The belt has clearly been modified at some point, with extra holes. It was presented by Amy to the donor’s father, Mr. Charles W. Scott, who was a Forestry Officer working at Insein, in what was then Burma.
Amy crash-landed her aircraft ‘Jason’ there on 13 May, 1930. Scott was instrumental in organising repairs to Amy’s plane, which allowed her to continue her flight, albeit with a two-day delay that cost her a chance of the record time for the England-Australia route. Scott later wrote a substantial letter to family back in England detailing his impressions of Amy Johnson and including the story of the belt, as follows: – Miss Amy was wearing khaki shorts and complained pathetically that their pockets were so full of wrenches and other tools that her neat little suede leather belt did not sustain the said shorts adequately. Sir Walter Rayleigh was no quicker with his cloak to Queen Bess than CW Scott with his belt to Amy Johnson! I threw it at her feet and as the spectators gasped, I assured them they need not be afraid, for my shorts would NOT come down, being ‘nailed to the mast’, sartorially speaking, by their waisted design! So, she’s flying in my good hefty belt, the one I bought, I think, at the saddlers in Castle Street; and in my room hangs a belt which I greatly honour, although my boy looks at it with suspicion and distain. Needless to say, this story has gone round the department and I am constantly chipped about Amy and my belt. The name lends itself to a parody on ‘Daisy, Daisy, on a bicycle made for two. Amy’s belt has now been donated to the Sewerby Hall collection by the Scott family.
On loan to Sewerby Hall from a private collection is a 1930s style leather flying helmet, believed to have been worn by Amy. The helmet was purchased by a member of the lender’s family at auction some years ago. It was sold at auction with a provenance linking it to a friend of the Johnson family, who had supposedly been given it by Amy herself.
Also on loan is a contemporary newspaper detailing Amy’s reception in her native city of Hull, when she visited in August 1930 for a celebration of her flying exploits.
Dr. David Marchant, museums registrar, said: “We are thrilled to have these new items on display to add to our world famous Amy Johnson displays at Sewerby Hall.”
The objects will be on display at the Hall until the end of this year.
