State of play

Christmas Eve seems an appropriate moment for a brief review of where I’ve got to on this project, but before doing so it’s worth noting that last week I had lunch in West Sussex with Charles Fairey, CRF’s grandson and the son of Richard Fairey.  Charles was both welcoming and charming, and it quickly became clear that he can be extremely helpful; while I have already learnt a considerable amount from him, on more than one occasion in the future I shall formally interview him re his recollections of his grandfather, and the latter’s relationship with his eldest son.  When not involved in activities related to work (including myriad Great War commemoration and memorial activities), or visiting Charles Fairey, or dealing with my elderly mother (across the past five months matters related to the latter have taken up as much as three weeks of my working time, with no immediate resolution in sight), then I have continued writing what will be chapter 2, focused upon prewar flying on Sheppey.  Writing a contextual narrative, largely but not entirely rooted in secondary sources, is proving more challenging than constructing a ‘story’ rooted in primary sources and highly focused – as will eventually be the case for Fairey.  In consequence I have only written about 7500 words, albeit in a form well beyond first or second draft.  Having written about J.W. Dunne, and the Short Brothers, my next section is on the earliest days of the RNAS – after which I can focus upon Fairey’s decision to leave Shorts early in the war and with the Admiralty Air Division’s encouragement form a company to which Horace, Eustace and Oswald could sub-contract work.  The research for this has of course been completed across the autumn, plus investigation into CRF’s life prior to being employed by Dunne, as well as work on the British Air Commission for my research application(s).  I would like to be further ahead, and having to travel repeatedly to Coventry has clearly held me back, but I am reasonably satisfied with where I am.  Demands upon my time at work were more than I anticipated, and my MA/PGR commitments next semester will be considerably greater.  Nevertheless, I feel reasonaby satisfied with what has been accomplished by the first Christmas, and I hope the Fairey family feel the same.