Distinguished Visitors Enjoy the Fly-Fishing at Bossington House

Lord Brabazon, Edwin Hubble and a former American ambassador relax at Bossington House in this delightful home movie from the Fairey family

This delightful home movie, courtesy of Sarah Jane Fairey and William Buckley, shows distinguished visitors at Bossington House - the home of the aviation pioneer Sir Charles Fairey. We see Lewis Douglas, the former American ambassador fishing for trout on the River Test. Lord Brabazon and the astronomer Edwin Hubble, in waders, also appear. All three raise a toast to the camera. The Fairey family are seen throughout the film, often playing with their Dachshund puppies.

Lewis Williams, seen fly-fishing in this film, was the former American ambassador to the UK. In 1949 he suffered an accident while fly-fishing which permanently damaged his left eye. As a result, he wore a patch, which can be seen in the film, over his injured eye for the rest of his life. Another Bossington guest who appears is Lord Brabazon, who was at one time Minister for Aviation. He was also the first Englishman to fly in a heavier-than-air machine. Astronomer Edwin Hubble, after whom the space telescope is named, completes the trio of distinguished visitors seen in this particular home movie which was made in the spring of 1953. In September of that year Hubble died of a cerebral thrombosis in California.