Long before Santa Pod existed there was a remarkable link between the site and speed.
There's a War Graves Commission gravestone in Podington churchyard to Air Vice Marshal Augustus Henry Orlebar, C.B.E., A.F.C. and Bar, Royal Air Force. Died 4th August 1943, aged 46.
The stone omits the most amazing thing about this man who actually lived in the village. In September 1929 he set an air speed record of 357.7 mph in Supermarine S.6 seaplane N247, which was over 120 mph faster than Sir Henry Segrave's Land speed record. This feat was carried out off Calshot, Hants over the Schneider Trophy course.
There's a War Graves Commission gravestone in Podington churchyard to Air Vice Marshal Augustus Henry Orlebar, C.B.E., A.F.C. and Bar, Royal Air Force. Died 4th August 1943, aged 46.
The stone omits the most amazing thing about this man who actually lived in the village. In September 1929 he set an air speed record of 357.7 mph in Supermarine S.6 seaplane N247, which was over 120 mph faster than Sir Henry Segrave's Land speed record. This feat was carried out off Calshot, Hants over the Schneider Trophy course.