The period between WW1 and WW2 was known as the ’Flying Circus Era’. Between around 1926 and 1938 Old Moor Farm hosted an annual air show. It was held by a series of different companies and saw pilots showing off their skills in a variety of small and medium sized aircraft. Loop the loop, wing walking and any number of other tricks were being performed. Audience participation was available too too, four or five shillings would buy you a flight – no seat belts of course!
One of the pilots was Sarah (Daisy) Brooke, a remarkable single woman, who along with her sister Ethel, were the last two Brooke’s to occupy Old Moor after the death of their father Joseph in 1938. Daisy served with the Red Cross at Middlewood Hall, Darfield and also in Leeds during the First World War. She played her part running the farm during the period between the two wars. Daisy was a keen pilot, and was known to have been taking part in the Flying Circus which graced the farm between the two world wars.
No doubt the Old Moor Air show was a significant attraction, however, there could also be a downside. In 1933 the Sunday School Festival had to be abandoned because of noise from the airshow!