So gradually flying was introduced at their new base, and in 1951 a proper lease was agreed with the Air Ministry, which was promptly reduced in monetary value to allow funds for the Aero Club to repair the dilapidated main hanger and the Control Tower for use as a Clubhouse.
The land for the airfield had been requisitioned from the Co-operative Wholesale Society, and was now returned to them, so they became the Clubs new landlords.
The Club was flying Tiger Moths and Austers at the time, and members owned various light aircraft such as an ex RAF Miles Messenger, and a Whitney Straight, in which they flew all round Europe on business, in Rallies and on holiday. Many firms based aircraft at Stoughton to enable their businessmen to move around quickly, and they helped to create the post war boom in business. The Club trained many more pilots for civil and business aviation and for the emerging Airlines and tourism trade.
In 1951 the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leicester came to visit the new facility. The new President was Lt.Col. Sir Robert Martin, who had an energetic team of instructors and management after the war to see the Club through the 1950s. The Chairman was G.G.Grainger and the new C.F.I. Arthur Coltman.
The members themselves put a lot of effort into turning the dirty and dilapidated Control Tower into a pleasant clubhouse with viewing balcony, fully licenced bar, a small kitchen, and air traffic control for the airfield.
A Festival Air Rally (Festival of Britain year), was held in 1951, the first proper event at the new field, and by 1955 Candlelit Dinners and other events were being held. A second Air Day was held in 1952.
In 1954 another crisis loomed, we read in the newspapers of that date that the Government proposed to shut down all civilian Flying Schools, which was a major calamity for aerodrome owners. Although at this time apparently Leicester was not yet an officially recognised flying school it must have been perceived as something of a threat.
In 1958 the Queen and Prince Phillip flew into Leicester East, an occasion which spurred the Leicester City Council to resurface the main runway, all three wartime runways being in full use at the time. This jolted the Club into a whole lot more tidying and refurbishment. Three of the hangers, not in use, had become derelict and were pulled down in 1960.
Things took a turn for the worse again in 1959-60 when the Ministry of Transport decided to reinstate the road, which had run across the land before the airfield was built. This they proposed to put down the main runway! They were persuaded to use the northern perimeter track instead, but demanded a payment of £2,000 for the diversion. Money which unfortunately the Club didn't have, and it went "into the red". No money was available to keep the airfield and buildings in repair after this.
By 1966 Frank Lazenby was the Chairman when the next big crisis came and the Club nearly disappeared for good.
Things seemed to be going well, Fox's Glacier Mints company had been keeping a four engined Heron aircraft in the hanger for business flights, and had only recently given up the plane when their Irish factory had closed. A twin engined Dove was still kept by another company, the Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company Ltd., which flew executives all over England and the continent. Many other businessmen kept single engined aircraft too, and the Club had Auster, Terrier, Tripacer and Cessna aircraft for training. Many privately owned aircraft were also housed at the Club.
In September 1966 the Landlord, The Co-operative Society, issued a possible death blow. With five years of a seven year lease left the Club was told that they were in contravention of their lease, and if £3,000 was not immediately spent on hanger refurbishment the whole airfield would be returned to agriculture forthwith. They also felt that the bigger business aircraft were too big, and they were to stop flying immediately. This alone represented a loss to the Club of £2,000 per year.
The Club was still very short of money and appealed to its members to pay up their arrears of membership dues. This met with very little response. The Co-op issued notice to quit and rejected an appeal for clemency. There was an immediate uproar in the local press, and firms appealed for the airfield to be kept open, they relied upon quick and easy mobility for they executives and anyway, what would Leicester be without a General Aviation field, it was indispensable.
The engineer in the hanger who looked after the Clubs aircraft was one of those owed money, and he flew the two Austers he had been working on to Nottingham airfield and immobilised and impounded them until he was paid. That left the Club with only one aircraft to generate income - things were desperate indeed.
There were 15 creditors who were offered about half the money owed if they forced the Club into liquidation. Leicester City Council joined in the fight to keep the Club and the airfield open, and a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce was held in November 1966. The Club was only seeking backing with their representations to the Co-op, not asking for money.
The Co-op fought back with shattering proposals to stop all business and executive flying from the airfield. It seems they refused to negotiate with a syndicate of four businessmen who said that they had "taken over the Club", and were proposing amongst other things to close two of the runways according to the local press. The Co-op said they were only prepared to accept private flying, anything else was a violation of the lease.
