There was good attendance at the February meeting of Retford Ladies Probus Club, when the AGM took place. In the light of the Vice President having stepped down, members are very grateful to Angie Haynes for agreeing to remain in office for another year as President and indeed to other committee members for their long continued service.
The meeting featured David SKillen who gave an interesting history of ‘Women Masters of the Skies’, aptly subtitled ‘Pilots n’Petticoats’.
Most people have heard of Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia, and Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic, but who knew about Dolly Shepherd, a parachutist in the Edwardian era, or Elisabeth Thible who in 1784 was the first woman to take to the skies in a hot air balloon. Sophie Blanchard lost her life in 1819 when she tried to hold a firework display in the basket, causing the ballon to burst into flames.
Members enjoyed these and many more stories. You cannot help but admire these gutsy females who have faced misogyny, peril and whatever else to prove they are just as capable as their male counterparts.
The Club’s next meeting will take place on Wednesday 13th March at Westfield Community Centre , Ordsall, at 10.00am for 10.30am. All are welcome.