By BARRY GARDNER

In my latest reincarnation as part-time PR man for a charity called 

Re-engage I recently encountered a gentleman with a great story which highlighted the glory days of the Daily Express.

The charity supports older people through various social events, including monthly free tea parties. And one of those who attends is 

88-year-old Brian Barnett, who helped the UK beat America in the race to make the first commercial jet flight across the Atlantic.

Brian was on his way to work one Wednesday in October 1958 when he picked-up a copy of the Express which was carrying a competition to win a seat on a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) deHavilland Comet 4 jet liner.

The competition was for the best slogan to advertise the flight and by the time Brian – then a buyer for Esso Oil- reached his office in the Haymarket he had come up with the magical phrase: “Comet 4, ace of space in the transatlantic race.”

He posted it and waited.

The next day someone from the Express rang to say he was on the shortlist. Twenty-four hours later he was told he had won and the flight was taking-off the following morning. Did he have a passport?

Brian, a great grandfather from West Wickham, Kent, told them he didn’t.

A short while later a car carrying an Express representative arrived at the office and whisked him away to London’s Petty France where he was immediately handed a new passport. Then it was on to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square to get a visa.

At 6am on Saturday, October 4th he was collected from home, driven to London (Heathrow) Airport and four hours later, with the jet crammed with company executives, they took off for the record-breaking flight.

“It was the most exciting time of my life,” said Brian who still vividly remembers that day. “There was lobster, steak and cocktails I had never heard of on the menu. You were even allowed to smoke. It was absolutely fabulous. The flight was so smooth one of the crew balanced an old threepenny bit on a tray for ten minutes and it didn't budge.

“Thanks to the Express it changed my life and I’ve dined out on this story ever since.”

Before the de Havilland's breakthrough a transatlantic flight would have taken up to 20 hours with stopovers to cover the near 3.500 miles. The Comet 4 made it to Gander in Newfoundland in just seven before continuing to New York where the plane was greeted by crowds booing from the rooftops of Idlewild (JFK) Airport. They were employees of Pan Am whose Boeing was also vying to be the first commercial plane to make the journey. 

It finally made the trip a couple of weeks later.

The Express’s New York correspondent, Peter Woon, de-briefed Brian, filed his copy and was keen to get him on the next flight back to London.

“He wanted me out of the way because he had tickets to watch the World Series but I convinced him I had friends in Philadelphia and he helped get me on my way

“I got back home a few days later and that was the start of travelling worldwide with my wife, Doreen,” said Brian who has retained memorabilia from the momentous occasion.

Sadly, no London-based Express reporter was assigned to travel with Brian on the flight.

No doubt it would have been a great jaunt for Norman Luck who might well have claimed the jet on expenses.

BARRY GARDNER

15 September 2024

Brian’s certificate for the record-breaking flight

 Crowd at London Airport cheering passengers on their way

Brian boarding the Comet. He's near the top with arm upraised and you can see him clutching a copy of the Daily Express