Winifred Brown

Winifred Sawley Brown (also known as Winifred Adams; 26 November 1899 – 30 July 1984) was an English sportswoman, aviator and author. She was the first woman to win the King's Cup air race (in 1930). The race has been running annually since 1922.

Early life and career Brown was born in 1899 in Sale, Cheshire. Her father was the director of a butchery firm. She made her first flight in 1919, at Hooton Park Aerodrome, As the first female member of the Lancashire Aero Club, She competed in the Talbot O'Farrell Handicap at the Filton Aerodrome in May 1928. Others included Geoffrey de Havilland, Geoffrey de Havilland Jr., Lady Mary Bailey, Winifred Spooner, Edgar Percival, Frederick Guest, and the Master of Sempill.

On 5 July 1930, the King's Cup air race was staged to start and finish at Hanworth, starting at 7:00am, following a circular route of via Hamble, Whitchurch (Bristol), Birmingham, Hooton Park, Barton Aerodrome, Woodford Aerodrome, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Cramlington (Newcastle), Hedon Aerodrome, Ratcliffe Aerodrome, and back to Hanworth. Fixed-time refuelling stops were at Whitchurch, Barton, Cramlington and Hedon. She started the handicap race in her Avro Avian biplane accompanied by Adams as a passenger. It was the race with the most participants to date. The King's Cup trophy was presented to her by Sir Philip Sassoon. Sassoon was a politician, and the Air-Commodore of No. 601 Squadron RAF known as "the millionaires squadron". She was also presented with the Siddeley Trophy, as the winner who was also a member of the Lancashire Aero Club, a qualifying light aeroplane club. After her victory in one of the most prestigious air races in the United Kingdom, she was welcomed in several official ceremonies and events including a reception in the House of Commons. In 1935, she moved from flying and exploring to sailing. This had been her father's interest; she bought a boat, and had it re-fitted by the original builders. She sailed together with Adams, and they set off for the Arctic, travelling to Spitzbergen. In 1939, her book about sailing off the Norwegian coast, Duffers on the Deep, was published.

From 1976, Brown lived on Seaway, a motor yacht bought by her son Tony, moving between Lymington and Brighton. Her King's Cup trophy was displayed in the aft cabin.

Brown was a sportswoman active in a variety of disciplines; she also golfed and played hockey and ice hockey for England.