E.T. Willows was born on July 11th 1886 at 11 Newport Road (Brighton Terrace), the son of Joseph Thomson Willows, a dentist.

The house still stands and has been used by University College since 1972

Willows was educated at Clifton Prep school, Bristol, from 1896 and left school at the age of 15 in 1901 and started to train as a dentist.

Willows built his first airship “Willows 1” in 1905 and it had its first proper flight on September 5th

“Willows II” was built in 1909 at East Moors, Cardiff and was first flown on November 26.

It landed outside City Hall Cardiff on June 4th 1910.

Willows then flew it from Cheltenham to Cardiff on July 11th, and again from Cardiff to London in August 1910.

“Willows III” was built in 1910 and first flown October 29th It was named “City of Cardiff” and flew from London to Paris in November 1910

Willows IV was built in 1912, at Birmingham

Willows V was built in 1913 at Hendon and had its first flight November 27

During WW1 Willows built kite (barrage) balloons in Westgate Street Cardiff, and turned to shipping and ballooning after the war.

The Royal Aero Club awarded Willows Airship Pilots Certificate No. 1

Willows died on August 23 1926 in a balloon accident giving joy rides at a public show at Hoo Park, Kempston, Bedford. Two couples in the ballon died with him.

Reference: The Father of British Airships Alec McKinty, William Kimber & Co Ltd SBN 7183 0282 6 1972