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"Return to England" as written by Shirley Allen and published in the British Women Pilots’ Assn (BWPA) News |
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Returning to my homeland is
always a sentimental journey. Becoming involved in aviation for over
thirty years in Canada, joining the 99s, and the BWPA, forming many
friendships, has been fantastic, like opening a Pandora’s Box!
One of my priorities on a recent trip to England, was to see the new Women in Aviation Exhibition at Brooklands, the cradle of aviation in Surrey. It didn’t disappoint. Compact, but colourful and well presented. A credit to the BWPA members involved. Thank you all for arranging the special tour. I had more than just a casual interest, as we are putting together a similar venue at the new Toronto Aerospace Museum (old de Havilland facility) at Downsview Airport.
My two-week visit included a day in London town. I was a typical mad tourist on the underground, (day pass, the best bargain ever), rode the new Jubilee Line, Dockyard, saw the Millennium sights, the Dome, the Eye, (thanks Jill Honisett for the ideas) Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street. Canada House was on my list (a stint in the cafeteria in 1946 before I left for Canada to rejoin my husband) Canary Wharf (lots of Canadians there). Then, a few days on the South Coast and up to Scotland for a week-end with dear family-friends.
Another highlight had to be lunch with Aileen Egan (British Gov., 99s) at White Waltham Airfield - a nostalgic look back in time at the WW II British Training Centre for the ATA. We chatted with Lettice Curtis (I devoured her book "The Forgotten Pilots). As most of you know Lettice was one of the few women Air Transport pilots qualified to ferry four-engine bombers during the war. What a National treasure she is, with her vast store of knowledge and history. It was also amazing to see that general aviation was alive and well at a small aerodrome in England. The BWPA are a tremendous source of motivation and encouragement in so many of their aviation endeavours. Their enthusiasm is boundless, their imagination soars. I never cease to be impressed with all that they accomplish against inhibiting costs and restrictions flying in the U.K. I do however, take full credit for the wonderful weather that I took with me from Canada for those two precious weeks. One thing I didn’t need, was my Raincoat and umbrella! Hot on my heels for a ten-day flying trip, was my partner-in-crime, from Toronto, Nat McHaffie. She covered about 5 or 6 Museums in the U.K. and found time to renew friendships, enjoy a flight in a Dragon Rapide and Auster II, while she was judging an aerobatic competition at SLEAP in Shropshire. (Nat flies aerobatics in her own Pitts S2A in Ontario, Canada). |
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Picture of Diane Earhart, a US Flight Instructor &
visitor; Susie Dunbar, W.W.P.A. Surrey Regional Chair; and Shirley
Allen, 99s Canada, FCC Research WIA Display - in front of the
"Women in Aviation" exhibit at the Brooklands Museum.) 