Aviation has made such rapid progress that it seems strange to discover that a famous balloonist is still alive and taking a keen interest in the development of aeronautical science.
I made this discovery the other day, when Mr Griffith Brewer was elected President of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Mr Brewer took up ballooning in 1891, and when the Royal Aero Club was formed he was granted "Aeronaut's Certificate No. 5." He represented Great Britain the Gordon Bennett Balloon Races in 1906, 1907 and 1908, and won the International Balloon Competition in the latter year. When Wilbur Wright came to Europe in 1908 Mr Brewer was his first English passenger.
During the last war he was Adviser to the Airship and Kite Balloon Services. When the present war broke out it was discovered that there was no text-books available for the personnel of balloon barrages, so Mr Brewer's lectures delivered to the Airship and Kite Balloon Services between 1914 and 1918 were reprinted. Mr Brewer, who is 73 years of age, piloted his own aeroplane until two years ago.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, an Irishman, who holds the first aeroplane pilot's certificate issued in England, has been elected Vice-President of the Society.
The Irish Times, July 15th, 1940.