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Marshall of Cambridge by Stephen Skinner
Published by
ISBN 0-7524-3125-0 Price £12.99
In a world of multinational conglomerates, one name in British aviation has remained independent for the past nine decades. Little known outside the aviation industry, Marshall of Cambridge has quietly grown to be one of the largest single employers in Cambridgeshire. Founded in the Edwardian era as motor engineers, the company branched out into aviation after the First World War, teaching pilots to fly, and became a major aircraft repair centre during the Second World War. In the inter-war period it purchased the land which grew to be Cambridge Airport, and now owns the site. Marshall have a repair facility at Cambridge that has worked on almost every type of aircraft manufactured in the UK and USA, winning many civilian and military contracts. They have made components for aircraft as diverse as Comets and Concorde. The company also has a string of motor dealerships, and manufactures ambulance and lorry bodies for both military and civilian use. This is the story of the firm’s prodigious enterprise over the past century. |
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Review in Airfield Research Group 2004
This is a very good book and it is hoped that it will encourage further books covering companies which carry out (and some still do like Marshalls) an important role in providing engineering work for the modification, development and repair of aircraft. A whole side of the aviation industry which needs to be recognised for its contribution. Although Marshalls are well-known, the extent of their involvement over the years especially with the Hercules cannot be underestimated. The author with great fortune has had access to the photographic collection and records of the company, which have been held together as a "family firm" rather than been dissipated which has been the case with so many other companies. The definitive book on Marshalls by Sir Arthur himself probably graces many bookshelves but this one is a welcome addition as it has brought the work of the company up to date and used a considerable number of new photographs. Many forgotten types of aircraft are illustrated along with some very good views of the airfield and hangars, some similar to those published in the Airfield Review article in the October 1999 issue. A good history of the company is given in the text, often with background information to their involvement and the reason for development of the Teversham airfield. Happily most of the original buildings survive and their uniqueness serving as a benchmark has resulted in the appropriate "listing". Nobody will be disappointed with this book, indeed it might provoke much more interest of the work done by companies like Marshalls.
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