Monday 16th February 2026

Doors to Manual
The evolution of flying from absolute luxury to modern economy
Roger Mendham

Flying is something we take for granted these days - it is a very quick, easy and relatively economic way of travelling long distances, but in the beginning things were very different. 

The first scheduled passenger flight from the UK was in 1919, when a two and a half hour flight would take you to Le Bourget, Paris.  The conditions and level of comfort were basic, no in-flight service and the seating was wicker chairs bolted to the floor of the cabin.

Doors to Manual takes a passengers perspective to the history of flying as we progress from those early planes, to airships (where you would dress for dinner), to flying boats (which could reach Australia in 10 days) to the postwar aircraft and to today's extensive range of economy flights. 

The cabin crew are central to the story. The earliest ones were qualified nurses, to provide reassurance to the passengers. Over time their role has evolved and today their primary responsibility is passenger safety. How their uniforms have changed over time is a really interesting topic. Many of them have been created by some of the greatest designers; including, Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, Vivienne Westwood and Yves St Laurent. There was also a period in the ‘swinging sixties', when some airlines had pretty outrageous crew uniforms. When you see the photographs, you will be amazed. 

Other topics covered include, how food and drink have been adapted to meet our changed tastes at 30,000 feet, the in-flight entertainment advances enabled by modern electronics and the latest approaches to comfort in the various classes of travel.

It is richly illustrated and covers a subject that almost everyone has experienced.  

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Roger Mendham

Many of you will remember Roger for his intruguing and entertaining talk about Monopoly. He's a keen and accomplished photographer. Roger has gained Distinctions from the Royal Photographic Society and has recently completed 3 years as President of the Surrey Photographic Association. His artistic taste is predominantly 20th century and he is particularly interested in the visual aspects of art. He has studied the evolution of photography from its earliest days in the early 1800s to becoming a major art form in the late 20th and now 21st centuries. An experienced public speaker, his talks are all richly illustrated.