It is amazing to think how far Gatwick Airport has come since its small beginning in 1930. It was an area of flatlands and Ronald waters, who was an enthusiastic aviator decided that it would be idea to build an airport on. He did just that and Surrey Aero Club had an airfield from where they ran pleasure flights. After a few years he lost interest and sold up. The man who bought the land was Morris Jackaman and he set up the beginnings of the Gatwick airport that is there today. It was a far cry from the travel companies, shops, waiting rooms and car hire companies that you see there today.

To start with he had to apply for a commercial license and then a new railway station opened nearby allowing people to reach the airport easily. In 1936 a terminal building was opened. It is called the Beehive terminal and nowadays is seen as a strange creative artefact rather than practical building housing staff and passengers. The airport was a great success and after a start of just having flights to Paris it quickly sent people to four other destinations by the end of its first year. The rest, as they say, is history, but when you are bustling about getting stressed about luggage collection, customs, car hire and duty free, remember what a fantastic history the site has had and how one man and his business partner probably never imagined what a successful place Gatwick airport is today.