Donavon Cookes Burgoyne

12th October 1901 - 25th November 1980

Aviator & Plane Maker

Repairer of Sailplanes, Gliders and Light Planes

Henson's Aerial Carriage ,1843

From the cover of a Programe for a "Garden Party" for the "Royal Aeronautical Society", May 8th 1938, held at the Fairey Aviation Company's, Great West Aerodrome, near Hayes, that Don attended.

Don lost his left hand at the age of 15, he also injured his right hand, he could only move two fingers and his thumb, this was caused by an accident with a 12 bore shotgun, at Sandy Hill Farm, Shirley, Warwickshire.
Despite this handicap he built up a business making portable poultry buildings, his own egg producing unit, with help from Gladys. He built several aircraft, two Flying Flea's ("Pou-du-Ciel") . He learnt to fly, repaired gliders and sailplanes for the Air Ministry during the 2nd W.W. Afterwards he did repairs for private gliding clubs, and was licensed to issue Certificates of Airworthiness.

Click on a small picture below to see the full photograph and a description.

His first home with Gladys was a flat at the "Bear House" Old Warwick Rd, Lapworth, Warwickshire. Then "Berwyn Cottage" at Darley Green, next "Heronfield Farm", in 1961 they retired to Rustington, Sussex, and returned to Heronfield in 1968.

The cause of his death was "Pneumonia".

Don's School Class Photo's