Bexhill and District Branch Aircrew Association

Branch business at our February meeting was followed by one of Judith Bourke's spirited and excellently researched talks on the day-to-day lifestyle of our less privileged predecessors.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Feb 2008, 15:15 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:15 BST

Dressed in the period costume of an early nineteenth century maidservant, she gave a fascinating but chilling insight to conditions at both extremes of the social spectrum in Britain at that time.

The privileges enjoyed by a ruthless social climber (and founder of one of today's major banks) in his quest for wealth and power contrasted starkly with the fate of a poor girl who entered his service at the age of 12 and was hanged for murder at 17 because, having become pregnant by his heir, she had killed the child in a frantic attempt to conceal the birth. After six months in jail, starving, neglected and friendless, she was tried and condemned by a judge who happened to be an associate of her employer.

The son who had abandoned her was a member of the jury.

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Having been brought to earth so resoundingly, we return to the skies at our next meeting on Monday, March 10 when Andy Stewart explores "The Downing of Bader". April's guest speaker, Jason Newton, is a commercial pilot who will talk about "Airline Flying".

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