THE STARS ABOVE

MARION MCMULLEN looks at celebs who landed at London Airport after it opened 80 years ago

- MARION MCMULLEN

HOLLYWOOD legends, pop stars, singers and ballet dancers all flew in to Britain in the early days of London Airport.

The land was initially purchased to be a private airport to build and test planes by aircraft manufacturer Richard Fairey, who paid the Vicar of Harmondsworth a grand total of £15,000 for the 150 acre plot in 1930.

It was named Fairey’s Great West Aerodrome, but is now better known as Heathrow. The site became the base for RAF Heston during the Second World War before it was transformed into London's new civil airport in 1946.

Celebrities were soon flying into the London Airport, although the early passenger terminals were former military marquees that had no heating and were very basic... although they did welcome the passengers with fresh flowers.

The walk to and from aircraft could also be a muddy affair if heavy rain hit. Wooden boards were laid down to save travellers’ footwear.

When news that a famous face would be arriving, fans would gather to welcome them to British shores. Casablanca’s Humphrey Bogart, his actress wife Lauren Bacall, and actress Katharine Hepburn landed at London Airport in 1951 after filming The African Queen.