Ann Welch

Ann Courtenay Welch OBE, née Edmonds, (20 May 1917 – 5 December 2002)[1] was a pilot who received the Gold Air Medal from Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for her contributions to the development of four air sports - gliding, hang gliding, paragliding and microlight flying.

After she had acquired a motorbike to visit the local aerodrome, she learned to fly, earning her pilot's licence in 1934 one month after her seventeenth birthday.

[1] When the Second World War broke out, Ann Douglas enrolled in the Air Transport Auxiliary, on 1 December 1940, reaching the rank of Pilot First Officer, ferrying many types of aircraft including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Blenheims and Wellingtons from the factories to their operational units.

The book, quite unique at the time, remains an excellent introduction on the use of cloud observations in assessing the state of the atmosphere.

She received the FAI Gold Air Medal (1980)[5] in recognition of her devotion to the training and encouragement of young pilots.

[8] Also in 2006, the FAI created the Ann Welch Diploma which may be awarded each year to the pilot or crew of a microlight or paramotor who made the most meritorious flight which resulted in a world record.

[9] Annually, usually in late spring since 2006, the Royal Aeronautical Society holds its Ann Welch named lecture in London, typically on a General Aviation theme.

In 1939 Ann (Edmonds) married Graham Douglas, whose family owned Redhill Aerodrome and who had loaned the club the £300 needed to buy the necessary gliders and a winch.