User:Slmvbs/Maxine 'Blossom' Miles

Maxine 'Blossom' Miles ...

Early life
As a member of the Forbes-Robertson family Blossom was at the heart of London society. A privillaged but grounded upbrining ensured that she was able to develop her intellectual, sporting and artistic abilities to the full, despite loosing an eye at an early age.Blosssom was no stranger to the theatre and appeared on the London stage with members of her family on occassions Maxine spent her early years with her sisters Jean and Chloe at Hartsbourne Manor, the home of her Aunt Maxine and a wing of which was used exclusively by Blossom's parents. The house, formerly the the family seat of Sir Thomas Thompson is now now a private members golf club. The Forbes-Robinson's main family home was located at 22 Bedford Square in the heart of London's Bloomsbury district.

In 1915 Blossom's maternal grandfather Thomas Dermott, passed away in San Francisco. Blossom was a contempoary of Barbara Cartland with whom she was presented in 1919 as a Debutante. As a 'bright young thing' along with Lady Diana Cooper and Elsa Maxwell, Blossom organised 'treasure hunt' parties across London.

Marriage
Blossom married Captain the Hon. Inigo Brassey Freeman-Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Willingdon, son of Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon and Lady Marie Adelaide Brassey, on 8 October 1924. Her married name became Freeman-Thomas. Maxine Elliott gave Blossom $500,000 dowry on announcement of her marriage and the couple lived for a time in Miss Elliot's Regents Park home. Blossom's sister, Diana, was to write that Maxine (Eliott) had swept Blossom's first marriage out of the hands of her parents. In Febuary 1931 the couple were having built a low-wing monoplane at Shoreham  airport and planned to fly to India where Freeman-Thomas's father had been appointed as Viceroy. The New York Times, 7th December 1931 reported that Viscount Ratendone, (I.B. Freeman-Thomas) was seeking a divorce from Blossom (Viscountess Ratendone). Freeman-Thomas named F.G. Miles, flyng instructor as co defendent with Blossom in an undefended suit and was granted a decree nisi. Blossom and Inigo Brassey Freeman-Thomas, were divorced in 1932. Both Blossom and Freeman-Thomas had been members of the Southern Aero Club of Shoreham where Miles was a director and Instructor. F.G. Miles flew his Simmonds Spartan aircraft to South Africa to escape the situation and consider his position, almost immediately he returned and he and Blossom were soon wed.

Aviation
Blossom gained her aviation certificate (Royal Aero Club certificate 9585) through her membership of the Southern Aero Club. One of the first aircraft owned by Blossom:- De Havilland DH.60X Cirrus II regd G-EBZG in 1928: it was damaged on landing at Shoreham; sold to Southern Aircraft Ltd and rebuilt. Bought in October 1930 by Blossom and named "Jemimah".

Of the many aircraft Blossom helped design the Miles Sparrowhawk is one of the most notable. F.G.Miles decided to compete in the 1935 King’s Cup Air Race the job of producing a suitable aircraft fell to Blossom, who had just eight weeks to produce an aeroplane. With neither the time or the facilities to create something from scratch, she took a Miles Hawk, shortened the fuselage, improved the streamlining, reduced the wingspan by 5ft, reduced the height of the undercarriage, moved the legs outwards and away from the propeller slipstream and, finally, installed extra tanks to enable the 140hp Gypsy Major engine to complete the 953 mile course without a re-fuelling stop.

Positions & Appointments
Blossom was a director of both Phillip and Powis Aircraft Ltd and later when that company was purchased by her husband and brother in law a shareholder of Miles Aircraft Ltd. Within the Miles company Blossom was a draughtswoman as well as looking after the social and welfare issues faced by the rapidly expanding company. In 1943 The Miles Aeronautical Technical School opened under the directorship of Blossom Miles.

Civil Air Guard: Blossom served as one of 5 Commissioners of The Civil Air Guard which was established in July 1938 to encourage and subsidise pilot training. Formed around civilian flying clubs, subsidised tuitition was offered in exchange for an 'honourable undertaking' that in times of emergency, members would serve in the Royal Air Force Reserve.

Family
Mother: Gertrude Elliott (1874-1950)''' Born 14th December, 1874 - Rockland, Maine USA; (Birth name Gertrude Dermot), Gertrude Elliott first appeared on stage aged twenty, sister of actress Maxine Elliott. In 1900 she met and a year later married the noted Shakespearean actor Johnston Forbes-Robertson. Gertrude's last appearence with Forbes-Robertson was at the Drury Lane Theatre, London, in his farewell performance in 1913, the year he was Knighted. Gertude died 24th December, 1950 - Kent, England.

Father: Johnston Forbes-Robertson (1853-1937) Born 16th January 1853, London, England. He was considered the finest Hamlet of his time. He was Knighted in 1913. Died 6th November 1937, St. Margaret’s Bay, near Dover, Kent, England.

Aunt: Maxine Elliott Born 5 February 1874, Rockland, Maine, USA (Birth Name Jessie C. Dermott) Died 5 March 1940, Married twice. As well as being an actor she owned the Maxine Elliott Theatre. At her home in France le château de l'Horizon, she hosted parties for the elite entertainers and politicians of the time. Maxine Elliott, left a net estate of $1,140,065, the majority of which to her sister Gertrude.

Sister: Jean Forbes-Robertson (1905–1962) also known as Anne McEwen became an accomplished actress. Married twice; firstly to in 1929 to James Hamilton a publisher, though the marriage ended in 1933 and secondly to André van Gyseghem an actor and theatre director.

Sister: Chloe Forbes-Robertson (b.1909-?)

Sister: Diana Forbes-Robertson (1914–1988), was a writer who wrote a biography of her aunt Maxine Elliott. Diana was also known as Diana Sheean following her marriage to J.Vincent Sheean

Brother: John Forbes-Robertson  actor, born May 10 1928; died May 14 2008

Cousin: Beatrice Hale (1881–1967) née Beatrice Forbes-Robertson, niece of Johnston Forbes-Robertson, married to Swinburne Hale (America, 1910-1920); English feminist author and suffrage advocate

Brother in Law: George Herbert Miles; born on July 28 1911, died 1999. George joined Blossom and Fred Miles to manage the fast-developing aircraft works in Reading.