2 OF 2 
Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield; Sir Alan John Cobham and eight unknown others
2 of 2 portraits of Alfonso Merry del Val y Zulueta
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Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield; Sir Alan John Cobham and eight unknown others
by Fred Roe
pencil, 4 October 1926
15 in. x 10 1/4 in. (380 mm x 260 mm) overall
Given by (Eleanor) Frances Gordon Maynard (née Roe), 1994
Reference Collection
NPG D43179b
Sittersback to top
- Sir Alan John Cobham (1894-1973), Pioneer aviator. Sitter in 29 portraits. Identify
- Alfonso Merry del Val y Zulueta (1864-1943), Spanish ambassador to England. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Charles Cheers Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield (1859-1941), Businessman and philanthropist. Sitter in 15 portraits. Identify
- Sarah Frances (née Graham), Viscountess Wakefield (1858-1950), Wife of 1st Viscount Wakefield. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
Artistback to top
- Fred Roe (1864-1947), Artist. Artist or producer of 224 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
Events of 1926back to top
Current affairs
In response to wage cuts and increased working hours for coal miners recommended by the Samuel Commission, the Trade Union Council calls a General Strike of workers in the key industries. Although over 1.5 million workers took part, the TUC finally gave in after nine days and called off the strike. The Trade Disputes and Trade Union Act of 1927 made it harder for workers to strike.Art and science
A.A. Milne publishes Winnie-the-Pooh. The series of popular children's books featured the character Christopher Robin (named after Milne's son) and a cast of animals based on his stuffed-toys including Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo.The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is published. This was Agatha Christie's third 'whodunit' novel featuring Hercule Poirot, the Belgian Detective.
International
The League of Nations accepts Germany as the sixth permanent member on the council deeming it a 'peace-loving country'. This confidence, however, was short lived with Germany leaving the League with the accession of Adolf Hitler to power in 1933.Comments back to top
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Desmond Markus
18 March 2019, 16:04
The dates and names indicate that this is a sketch of the first official lunch honouring Alan John Cobham following his return on Friday, 1 October 1926 from the first return flight to Australia (which ended in spectacular fashion when he landed his DH.50 Jaguar-engined Moth seaplane on the Thames by the House of Commons).
The lunch, given by Sir Charles Wakefield, was at the Connaught Rooms, with 600 guests attending. It was reported in The Times (05/10/1926 page 9, Issue 44394) 'Mr. Cobham's Flight,' that his mechanics (Sergeant Arthur Henry Ward and Mr Cecil Thomas Stanley Capel) were also at the top table.
Other people mentioned in the article - other than already named - are:
Colonel Brinsmead (Australian Director of Civil Aviation)
Lord Thomson (at the time a former and future Secretary of State for Air)
Sir Sefton Brancker (UK Director of Civil Aviation)
Lord Novar (former Governor-General of Australia)
Major-General Sir Neville Howse VC (Minister for Defence for Australia)
J G Latham (Attorney General)
Lord Riddell
The lunch was also reported in Flight magazine (07/10/1926 pages 661-662) 'Sir Charles Wakefield welcomes Alan Cobham'
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1926/1926%20-%200745.html
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1926/1926%20-%200746.html
London Gazette (08/10/1926 page 6434, Issue 33209) announced awards for the airmen
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33209/page/6434/data.pdf