He was one of the pioneers of air travel in Scotland.
And now, rare film footage of a groundbreaking flight from Aberdeen to Norway by former RAF pilot Eric Gandar Dower will be among material exhibited at a new attraction in Aberdeen.
Provost Skene’s House is being redeveloped as part of Aberdeen City Council’s masterplan, and will tell the stories of local people who helped transform the wider world.
The attraction will showcase the achievements of more than 100 remarkable individuals across a wide variety of vocations and pursuits.
These include Mr Dower, the innovative flying ace who stablished Aberdeen Airport at Dyce in the 1930s.
On May 29, 1937, his company Allied Airways flew to Stavanger to mark the official opening of Sola Airfield – paving the way for the launch of a commercial air service between Britain and Norway.
Mr Dower and his wife, Caroline Brunning, joined Captain Eric Starling, engineer Cecil Goodall, and radio operator Alec Milne aboard a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide.
Silent film footage unearthed in the collection of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums shows scenes of the opening of Sola Airfield and a reception at a villa owned by the Olsen shipping family.
The council’s culture spokeswoman, Marie Boulton, said: “Aberdeen and the north-east have been home to an incredible range of pioneering talent over the centuries.
“Eric Gandar Dower displayed traits common to many of those who will be honoured at the new masterplan attraction – vision, belief and determination.
“He overcame challenges and he carried people with him.”
Aberdeen International Airport’s managing director, Carol Benzie, said: “We are very proud the achievements of Eric Gandar Dower, founding father of the airport, will be showcased as part of the redevelopment of Provost Skene’s House.
“From its origin in 1934, the airport has evolved considerably and now serves over three million passengers.”
The revamped facility, on Guestrow, is scheduled to open in early 2020. Designers Studioarc are currently sourcing a rich variety of artefacts and memorabilia in addition to creating bespoke audio-visual displays.
Provost Skene’s House – which dates from 1545 – was named after one of Aberdeen’s most famous residents, Sir George Skene, a merchant who pioneered trade with the Baltic nations.
He will be represented at the new attraction.
