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Alex Henshaw was a remarkable man in many ways, but his
reputation as an outstanding pilot and record breaker has
established his place amongst the greats in aviation history.
He set a record speed when winning the prestigious King's
Cup in 1938 which still stands, and most notably set a solo
record flying from London to Cape Town and back in his famous
Mew Gull G-AEXF which remains unbroken over seventy years
later, an outstanding example of human resolve, determination
and physical endurance. At the outbreak of war in 1940,
he joined Vickers-Armstrongs at Castle Bromwich as Chief
Production Test Pilot, and is reputed to have personally
test flown more than 10 per cent of all Spitfire and Seafire
aircraft manufactured during the war years. From the end
of the war until 1948, Alex Henshaw worked for the Miles
Aircraft Company in South Africa, where he survived more
adventures over the vast continent before returning home
to devote himself to family business interests.
He met aviation and motoring artist Michael Turner in 1979
when Michael was commissioned to produce a painting for
the cover of his book 'Flight of the Mew Gull'. Impressed
by the work he started commissioning further paintings,
each depicting a facet of Henshaw's remarkable flying career.
As the years went by their friendship grew along with the
collection, which progressively lined the walls of Alex's
home in Newmarket. The paintings, produced over a period
of the next twenty five years, had to portray events and
emotions that only Alex had experienced, and consequently
were all subject to lengthy discussion to ensure an accurate
and evocative result. A man with exactingly high standards,
his ultimate approval was a recognition that he was satisfied
not only with the painting, but its status as an accurate
interpretation of the often hazardous and life threatening
situations he encountered.
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In 2005, Alex realised that he had by then accumulated
what he considered a unique collection of paintings, in
that they related specifically to one person's life, and
suggested that they should be published. After discussing
various options at some length, Alex and Michael decided
to produce a book, using the paintings as a focal point
around which Alex would write a narrative in his own inimitable
and exciting style. In addition to the paintings, photographs
from his personal albums would be used to further embellish
the contents.
At the beginning of 2007, Alex still had two chapters to
write, and Michael a painting to produce, plus a few drawings
to fill some gaps where no appropriate photographs existed.
Tragically and unexpectedly on February 24th, Alex's heart,
which had withstood so many shocks during his ninety four
years, gave up, and this sudden turn of events threw everything
into confusion. However, with the support of Alex's son,
Michael was determined to carry the book project through
to a conclusion, both as a tribute to Alex and to keep faith
with their long and treasured friendship. It should be noted
that Alex Henshaw's outstanding success and reputation in
aviation was achieved in a mere sixteen action-packed years
and, whilst the book was originally conceived around the
paintings, the expansion of the text and inclusion of over
three hundred photos provides an intimate flavour of the
succession of astonishing events which peppered Alex Henshaw's
extraordinary flying career.
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