JUST ten years after the Wright brothers made their pioneering first flight in 1903, flying fever had hit Sussex.

At the age of 22 Cecil Pashley founded the county’s first flying school at Shoreham Aerodrome in 1913.

By the time the aerodrome officially opened as Brighton, Hove and Worthing Joint Municipal Airport in 1936, planes were becoming more widespread as these fascinating photos from The Keep archive in Falmer show.

The picture on the right shows Empire Day celebrations in full flow at the airport, with Hawker Hart and Fairey Swordfish bombers showing off Britain’s military might.

The Argus: A biplane on Brighton seafront in 1922. Photo: East Sussex Record Office/The KeepA biplane on Brighton seafront in 1922. Photo: East Sussex Record Office/The Keep

Of course aircraft were used for more peaceful means too. The photo on above shows Brighton schoolchildren swarming around a biplane on the seafront in 1931.

Below you can see members of the South Coast Flying Club based in Shoreham giving their planes a once-over in 1937.

But all uses for aircraft, peaceful and not so peaceful, were often intertwined as the story of Mr Pashley shows.

Both of his brothers were killed in the First World War - balloon officer Herbert on Christmas Day 1916, and fighter pilot Eric in March 1917. Cecil was luckier, instead training pilots during the Great War, but by the 1920s he was making his stake in the budding civilian aviation business.

The Argus: Members of the South Coast Flying Club inspect their aircraft in 1937. Photo: East Sussex Record Office/The KeepMembers of the South Coast Flying Club inspect their aircraft in 1937. Photo: East Sussex Record Office/The Keep

Mr Pashley struck up a partnership with Worthing resident Frederick George Miles, who he had taught to fly at Shoreham.

In 1927 they founded Gnat Aero Company, originally a flying school and joyriding business. But eventually the business split and Mr Miles helmed Southern Aircraft with the son of eccentric Brighton inventor Magnus Volk, building six Southern Martlet biplanes including one for his future wife.

While Mr Pashley trained pilots during the Second World War and was eventually rewarded the Air Force Cross, his former business partner moved to Reading to produce Britain’s first Biro pens for the RAF. Each to their own.

The Keep is unable to provide copies of photos until it reopens. For more information visit thekeep.info.