If you watched RAF at 100 with actor Ewan McGregor and his former RAF pilot brother Colin on BBC1 at the weekend, you will have seen the siblings interview this indomitable lady alongside the late Joy Lofthouse. She is a year older than the RAF. And she lives a few miles down the road from me on the Isle of Wight.
Mary Wilkins Ellis in ATA uniform 1941
Mary Wilkins grew up in a farming family in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. She learned to fly at Witney and Oxford Aero Club, where the directors were Mrs. Beatrice Macdonald and Mr. K. E. Walters.
On 15th March 1939, she flew B.A. Swallow G-AFGE for the first time. She flew it again…
An impressive lady, with another local connection for you, Sarah. I didn’t see that TV show, but will look it up on the catch-up service.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s not the greatest documentary and there’s perhaps too much of Ewan being child-like about flying but it’s still worth watching. I could have done with more in-depth interviewing.
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I confess I was put off by the trailer. It seemed like ‘boys and toys’. 🙂 x
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Yes, but there’s just enough to keep watching and even if you get Ewan going, ‘Weeeee!’, the perspective from the camera is fun.
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