A 97-YEAR-OLD woman from Stroud, who tracked German air raids during the Second World War, has taken to the air herself as a passenger in an aerobatic plane.

Joan Fanshawe’s high octane flight just days before Remembrance Sunday came courtesy of her neighbour Mark Greenfield, who owns Goodwood-based company Ultimate High.

Mark, a former military pilot and flight safety specialist, said: “We give people with little or no flying experience the opportunity to fly in high performance aerobatic aeroplanes themselves.

“We provide an extreme aviation experience.

“My friend and neighbour Lionel Fanshawe thought that he’d like to give his mother Joan an early Christmas present.

“She is a very energetic and lively 97-year-old lady, who I first met at a friendly croquet tournament, where she wiped the floor with everybody.

“Joan threw herself enthusiastically into the flight which started with a bird’s eye view of her home in Stroud and we went on to fly a series of rolls and loops, to much laughter from her.”

Joan, who moved to Stroud in 1964 with her husband, who was in the Royal Navy, said: “I enjoyed every moment, and Mark looked after me so well.”

She added that it had been a wonderful afternoon.

During the Second World War, Joan joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force aged 19 and on September 15, 1940, she was in the operations room at RAF Uxbridge tracking incoming German air raids.

At the height of the day’s air raids, the bunker was visited by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Joan was still in the operations room when he famously asked were there any more British aircraft available to join the fight, only to be told “none, they are all airborne.”

The day has since been recognised as the day the Battle of Britain was won, with the Germans cancelling plans to invade England soon after.

Mark added: “Joan is a fantastic lady and it was a privilege for the Ultimate High team to help her slip the surly bonds of earth.

“And just before Remembrance Day, it was also great to celebrate our living heroes.”