A day out to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum turned into something very special for Green Willow resident Stella when, at the age of 101, she finally had the chance to try flying a plane herself.
Aviation has held a special place in Stella’s life for many years. One of her favourite memories is flying on Concorde for her 50th birthday, a gift from her late husband that she still remembers as one of the best experiences of her life.
Her memories of aircraft go back even further. During the Second World War, Stella worked as a Land Girl and remembers watching dogfights taking place in the skies above the local fields.
Knowing how much aviation means to her, the Green Willow team arranged a visit to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, based at the former RAF Tangmere site in West Sussex.
What they had not expected was for Stella to end up in the cockpit.
After spotting the museum’s Lightning flight simulator, the team got chatting to the volunteers and explained Stella’s lifelong fascination with flying. Once they heard that she was 101 and had always wanted to fly a plane herself, they were only too happy to help.
Stella climbed into the cockpit, took off and ‘flew’ over the local area, seeing familiar places from a very different viewpoint.
Her verdict on the experience was wonderfully simple. She said it made her “feel like a bird.”
The landing may not have gone entirely according to plan, with Stella managing a rather memorable crash landing, but thankfully that is one of the advantages of a simulator. She emerged completely unscathed and with another story to add to an already remarkable life.
The museum volunteers even presented Stella with her own set of ‘wings’ to mark the occasion.
Cathy, Activities Coordinator at Green Willow, said:
“Stella often talks about how much she loves aviation and the incredible experience of flying on Concorde for her 50th birthday. She’d told us she would love to fly a plane herself but thought she was too old.
“So when we spotted the simulator, we just had to ask.
“The volunteers at Tangmere were wonderful with her. Seeing Stella in that cockpit, flying over an area filled with so many memories from her younger years, was incredibly special. She absolutely loved every minute of it, including the crash landing!”
For us, what makes the story particularly lovely is that the day began as a visit somewhere connected to Stella’s interests and memories, and ended with her trying something completely new at 101.
There are still adventures to be had at every age, and Stella now has the wings to prove it.
We were also delighted to see Tangmere Military Aviation Museum sharing Stella’s story on their own Facebook page, helping her high-flying adventure reach an even wider audience. A huge thank you goes to the museum’s volunteers for making Stella feel so welcome, and for turning an already special day out into one she will certainly remember.
Stella’s adventure has also caught the attention of the local press, with her story featured in the Sussex Express. You can read the full Sussex Express coverage here.
To learn more about life at Green Willow Residential Home in East Preston, you can explore our home here.
