Ernest Willows

Ernest Thompson Willows (1886–1926) was a pioneer Welsh aviator and airship builder.

Ernest's mother, Eva, previously worked as a music teacher before marrying in 1885 and starting a family.

Willows had two sisters: Doris May (1895–1961) and Daisy, the latter of whom was born in 1888 and died at about 2 months of age.

Willows was educated at Clifton College in Bristol, entering the school in 1896 and leaving in 1901, aged 15, to train as a dentist like his father.

The journey was not without incident, including dropping the maps over the side during the night, and problems with the envelope caused the airship to land at Corbehem near Douai at two o'clock in the morning.

With the help of the local French aviator Louis Breguet the airship was repaired and arrived at Paris on 28 December 1910.

With the money from the Navy, Willows established a spherical gas balloon school at Welsh Harp, Hendon near London.