Sydney Camm - Early Years

Early Years

He was the eldest child of Frederick Camm, who had twelve children with Mary Smith. He attended the Royal Free School (became the Royal Free Middle School with the secondary school becoming the Princess Margaret Royal Free School on Bourne Avenue) on Batchelors Acre in Windsor. His brother Frederick James Camm became a technical author, and created the Practical Wireless magazine. He lived near Windsor & Eton Central railway station.

Camm was a towering giant as an aeronautical engineer, but his beginnings were humble. He developed an interest in aircraft at an early age and his first interest in aeronautics was spurred on by his membership in the Windsor Model Aeroplane Club. His accomplishments as a model aeroplane builder culminated in a man-carrying glider which he and others at the club built in 1912.