I wonder if any readers can help clear up a mystery concerning Southend Airport?

I had just read one of the Echo stories about how the airport is becoming active again when I came across a piece in a nostalgia magazine.

The year was 1934 and the article concerned reported “numerous small companies have timetables showing local services, such as Southend Flying Services, which provides a daily service from Southend to Rochester in Kent, a distance of 18 miles”.

The flight, it was said, took 15 minutes and the cost of a single fare was eight shillings, or 40p in today’s money, and the return fare was 12 shillings, or £1.20 at today’s currency rate.

My wife had just reminded me that in those days, Southend Airport was called the Rochford Aerodrome.

My question is whether any readers have any knowledge of this service from 1934?

What aircraft did they use and do any photographs exist of the planes or the people who flew in them?

At that time the twin engined de Havilland 86 biplane was the small airliner which was in operation.

Would Southend Flying Services have used one of those? I am sure someone among the Echo’s readership will have the answers to this riddle.

Tim Healey
Sunny Road
Hawkwell