One thousand years ago, a young monk, Eilmer, became the first man to fly. Eilmer had fashioned wings which he set about fastening to his arms and his feet, and launched himself from the top of the old Abbey. Eilmer had observed jackdaws in flight, and had worked out how to make use of the currents of air to glide, rather than just plummet to earth.
He managed to cover a distance of around 200 metres. But it seems that it suddenly dawned on him what a risk he had taken, whereupon he panicked and came down with a bump, breaking both his legs. The strength of the wind also might have caused the sudden end to his adventure, but interestingly he also believed that he would have had more stability if he had provided himself with a tail.
He set about rectifying this shortcoming, and was making plans for a second flight when his abbot placed an embargo on any further attempts, and that was that. For more than half a century after these events, the limping Eilmer was a familiar sight around the community of Malmesbury, where he became a distinguished scholar.
In celebration of this nobel effort, 1000 years on and Malmesbury is set to take to the skies once again witha series of flight related events throughout 2010. These include:
June 2010
2nd
Flights of Fancy
Storytelling workshop 2pm-3.30pm for 7-11 year olds in Malmesbury Library
7th
Poetry competition launch
Competition to produce limited edition commemorative Book of Poetry.
26th
Poetry workshop
With Sue Chadd
July 2010
3rd
Make and Fly your own Eilmer
Craft sessions at Athelstan Museum and Paper Plane Competition at Birdcage Walk.
Exhibition of model Flying Machines through the ages.
Malmesbury Town
Hall & Athelstan Museum
2nd - 5th
Carnival Workshop
with James York-Moore and Hilary Cox - "Flight" - St Mary's Hall
26th
Reach for the skies - Flight then and now.
An illustrated talk from Paul Chapman, aeronautical Engineer and Captain Mannion former RAF Hercules navigator and Tornado Pilot and Boeing 777 pilot. St Mary's Hall, £5 from Malmesbury rocks!
31st
Winners announced of Poetry Competition and Launch of Poetry Book
Directed by
Matthew Inns (NZ) 2009. A short film (25mins) taking a look at the life
and story of Eilmer the Flying Monk. 2nd place in the Indie
International Short Film competition 2009. Showing Hourly 12 noon - 4pm
in the Council Chamber - FREE ENTRY! Popcorn and refreshments will be
available.
December 2010
4th
Eilmer Dinner
at Malmesbury Town Hall
11th
Eilmer the Musical
as part of the Malmesbury Singers Concert.
Eilmer was born in about 980 AD, and is best remembered for making a flight from the tower of Malmesbury Abbey in 1010 when he was a young monk there.
