Roy Chadwick (1893-1947)

Born in 1893 at March Hall Farm, nr Widnes. Roy Chadwick was the son of Charles Chadwick, a mechanical engineer, (the fourth generation of mechanical engineers in Chadwick family). Roy was to become the most celebrated chief designer for A. V. Roe & Company (Avro) and was responsible for many of the company’s Aeroplane designs. From 1915 until his death in 1947. He produced designs for over 200 aircraft, but is probably best remembered as the designer of the World War Two Lancaster Bomber.

Roy did the early work on the Avro 504 in 1913 and he initiated the design of the famous Avro 698, in 1947, which was eventually to become the mighty Vulcan.

Chadwick had originally been employed by British Westinghouse company in Trafford Park but left in September 1911, to work as Personal Assistant to Alliott Verdon Roe the Brownsfield Mill factory in Manchester.

His first complete design, was the Avro Pike, biplane bomber, which he designed in 1915 at the age of 22. He went on to design many Avro famous types including the Anson, which made its maiden flight at Woodford airfield in 1935.

Roy Chadwick died at Woodford on 23rd August 1947, whilst on a test flight in a Tudor II airliner.

Proud of being a Lancastrian and Mancunian he will be long remembered as a pioneer  in the annals of aviation.

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