Warminster u3a Monthly Talk: Magnificent Women and their Flying Machines – Sally Smith

Wednesday 29th July, Warminster Civic Centre, 2pm

Sally is a journalist and writer who has worked for many leading publications and broadcasters, including the Daily Mail, BBC News and Australia’s ABC News. Join Sally for a fascinating talk exploring the extraordinary stories of pioneering British women in flight – from the first British woman to take to the skies in a balloon and drift over London entirely by accident in 1785, to the first British woman to make a parachute descent in 1889 after growing up in a Victorian workhouse. Discover these and other remarkable, true and entertaining stories spanning more than two centuries, culminating with the first British woman in space.

Sally’s talk is informal and friendly, but bursting with information and enthusiasm about a subject she knows so well! It is all about the part British women have played in the development of aviation, based around the characters and adventures of the women featured in her latest book Magnificent Women and Flying Machines. Her talk is geared for everyone rather than just aviation enthusiasts, and is backed up throughout by pictures and photographs.

Sally Smith is a journalist and writer who has worked for various publications and media, including the Daily Mail and BBC News. She was named Business Writer of the Year, has a Churchill Fellowship and has had books published by Pelham Books, Rigby Books and the History Press. Sally has also spent a lifetime involved in travel, unconventional sports and in various areas of aviation.

A hugely experienced skydiver, she started and ran the world’s first ever all girl parachute display team; was British freefall champion and member of the British Parachute Team. She is also an experienced balloonist, ran a hot air ballooning school for many years; was a commercial balloon pilot, was a member of the Australian Ballooning Team and was second overall female at the World Ballooning Championships.

Entry £4.00 including tea, coffee and biscuits!

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available from 2pm and the talk will start at 2:45pm

For information about this and other talks, go to: www.warminster.u3asite.uk/events/

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