Mrs, Maurice Hewlett

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1943, Page 4

Mrs, Maurice Hewlett

(Special.) AUCKLAND. This Day. A pioneer airwoman. Mrs. Hilda Beatrice Hewlett, who was the widow of the distinguished English novelist, Maurice Hewlett, has died at Tauranga, aged 79. Mrs. Hewlett had lived at Tauranga since 1928. Her son. Temporary Air Commodore F. E. T. Hewlett, D. 5.0.. 0.8. E., R.N.Z.A.F.. also has his home there.

Tire daughter of a clergyman, the Rev. G. W. Herbert, Mrs. Hewlett was born at Clapham. and was married in 1888. She was one of the earliest women motorists in England, and in 1910. at the age of 46. she learned to fly. For this she had to go to France, and was taught in one of the primitive Farman biplanes, which were the best machines then in use. Returning to England, she brought an aeroplane with her. and obtained the first pilot’s certificate issued to a woman by the Aero Club.

She next opened a flying school at Brocklands. near the famous motorracing track, and there built a small Farman racer, the success of which led her to establish construction works at Luton in partnership with a French engineer. M. Blondeau. During the last war her firm built a number of machines for the Government. On the conclusion cf the war, she visited New Zealand, and five years after her husband’s death she settled at Tauranga. where her son joined her after his retirement from the Royal Air Force in 1934.