Famous People at the Ambassador

Winifred (Sawley) Brown was a spirited and unconventional woman from an early age. She proudly recalled learning to roll her own cigarettes at the age of five, and by fourteen, she had been expelled from school for writing "the headmistress can go to hell" on the toilet wall. Her first flight came in 1919, taking off from Blackpool sands, and it was clear that aviation was in her future.

A natural sportswoman, Winifred's talent for flying soon became apparent. In 1926, she became the first woman to join the Lancashire Aero Club, and by April 1927, she was the first woman in the region to earn her pilot’s license. Her achievements quickly piled up, and by March 1928, she was promoted to the rank of a private owner member, going on to win the club’s prestigious Rodman Trophy that same year.

By the time of the 1930 King’s Cup Air Race—a 750-mile race across England—Winifred was already an experienced pilot. However, she had never flown such a long distance. Pre-race coverage in Flight magazine on June 13, 1930, barely mentioned her, listing her among six other female pilots in passing. Winifred flew an Avro Avian with a Cirrus III engine, joined by her co-pilot, and later husband, John Ron Adams.

The race was thrilling from start to finish. After taking off from Hanworth, London, Winifred reached Barton Aerodrome in third place, greeted by cheering crowds. By the final leg in Newcastle, she had surged into the lead. In a dramatic finish, Winifred spotted a large aircraft behind her, mistaking it for a competitor. Determined not to lose her lead, she pushed the Avian to an incredible 160 miles per hour, a speed one mechanic later told the Salford Reporter was "courting disaster." Her determination paid off, as she beat her male competitors, including the renowned Flight Lieutenant Waghorn, winner of the prestigious Schneider Cup.

Winifred's fearless flying earned her lasting recognition

The Crazy Gang was made up of Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton, and Jimmy Gold, with occasional appearances by 'Monsewer' Eddie Gray. Essentially, the group was a combination of three well-known double acts: Flanagan and Allen, Naughton and Gold, and Nervo and Knox, with some contributions from Gray.

While each of them had achieved success individually before forming the Crazy Gang, their collaboration brought them to a whole new level of fame. Coming together felt natural as they shared a similar comedic style and frequently performed on the same theatre bills. The gang appeared first in their own stage show "Crazy Week" at the London Palladium, which later became their adopted home.