This is a little about the history of a lovely man called George Cayley
Basically, the only way to describe the great man, Sir George Cayley (1773-1857), who lent his name to our mighty hall is that he was hell of a boy. Considered one of the most important scientists in the history of aeronautics he was one of the first people to truly understand the underlying principles of the forces of flight. Also, to prove that he had the face as well as the brain we have provided a photo (look at those rugged good looks and chisel jaw, must have been a real ladies man).
He (I’m ashamed to admit it) lived on an estate in Yorkshire, England. I don’t know why he wanted to live there but he must have seen something most of us didn’t. As an educated man, Cayley spent most of his life working on engineering, social and political problems in England. Though his true passion was his interest in heavier-than-air flight and in 1799 he started history by setting forth the concept of the modern airplane. He identified the forces of flight that would be utilized by the Wright Brothers in the first successful airplane more than a century later.
He designed early models of helicopters but his speciality was in gliders (take a look at the bad boy below). In 1805 he designed, built and few a small model glider, the first in modern history. On this model was a fixed wing and a horizontal and vertical tail that could be adjusted. He found that the use of a tail wing allowed the main wings to increase their longitudinal stability. In 1849 Cayley built a large gliding machine, along the lines of his 1799 design, and tested the device with a 10-year old boy aboard. In essence, that was how he rolled. The gliding machine carried the boy aloft on at least one short flight. Now-a-days though if he attempted such a thing I’m sure it would be headline news for health and safety and putting a Childs life in danger rather than the fantastic breakthrough he earned.
Cayley’s endeavours (including areas other than aeronautics) are now renound world wide. He is seen, perhaps, as the single most important aerial researcher and theoretician of his time.
We now carry his name proudly as the best and most committed hall in Loughborough. Whenever we compete in IMS, Rag, Action or just general singing and banter we go under the blue and yellow of Cayley Hall and would have it no other way. We are honoured and privileged to have the reputation of such a great man as the name of our hall. We hope that he would be happy to see that the fun and friendliness of Cayley Hall is now a part of his legacy.
