Mrs Leeming hoping to become 1st woman to fly Channel
Mrs Leeming, hoping to become the first Englishwoman to cross the Channel in an aeroplane with Lieutenant Lawrence. Lawrence had made his first solo flight in the Blackburn at the end of January, and had decided to make his Channel attempt from Eastbourne. On the flight to Eastbourne he encountered engine trouble and was forced to land on the seashore. The aircraft was taken back to St Anthony's airfield for a complete engine overhaul. On the 30th March Lawrence took the machine out on a test flight but damaged the undercarriage on landing. Three days later Gustav Hamel took Miss Trehawke Davies in her newly purchased two-seat Bleriot monoplane and flew to France to give her the honour of being the first English lady to cross the Channel by aeroplane, rather than Mrs Leeming. The Tatler describes Mrs Leeming as an all-round sportswoman being especially fond of driving and riding as well as shooting
