Henry Greg Melly (1868-1957), early aviator
1901 Listed as an Electrical Engineer.[1]
Founder of the Melly Flying School, Freshfield
Formed the Liverpool Aviation School on Waterloo Sands
1910 Married in Prescot to Ellen Prescott
1911 Living at 18 Elmswood Road, Aigburth, Liverpool: Andre Leonard Melly (age 48 born Liverpool), Cotton Broker - Employer. With his wife Fanny Bertha Melly (age 50 born Liverpool) and their three sons; Augustus George Melly (age 46 born Liverpool), Solicitor; Edward Ferdinand Melly (age 53 born Liverpool), Mining Engineer - Employer, and his wife Hallie Melly (age 34); and Henry Greg Melly (age 42 born Liverpool), Professional Aviator, and his wife Ellen Melly (age 30). Also his niece Ellen Gladys Melly (age 26). Four servants.[2]
1939 Residing at Waverley, Moor Lane, Crosby, an Engineer Aviator Retired. With Ellen Melly and Eileen M. Melly.[3]
1957 Died. 'MR. HENRY GREG MELLY of Waverley, 175 Moor Lane, Great Crosby. who died yesterday aged 89, was one of the early pioneers of aviation. He learned to fly during his honeymoon in the South of France in 1910. On returning home he set up a flying school in Waterloo. His pilot's licence was No. 212 issued in France. If he had taken it out in England, it would have been No. 15. In May, 1911, he completed a flight "around Liverpool and across the river in 41 Minutes." A few weeks later, he made the first flight from Liverpool to Manchester and back in a Bleriot cross-Channel type monoplane. In July 1913, he circled over the River Mersey while King George V opened Gladstone, Dock. The King is reported to have watched this flying achievement with fascination. Mr. Melly gave up flying and broke up his aircraft when the War Office in 1914 banned his planes flying over gun emplacements on the Waterloo shore. It was said that the Army claimed he was a potential spy! Mrs. Melly, who survives her husband, was one of the first women to fly in Britain.'[4]