Book Description

This is a unique memoir that tells Patricia Margaret’s story from her early years, through to her time in the WAAF during WW2, as well as her later career with BOAC and her life as an expat wife and mother. Filled with amusing and poignant stories of her life around the world, it is also peppered with old photographs and nuggets of historical interest for readers. Combining a kaleidoscope of anecdotes, the book follows Patricia’s life story, from being a quiet, shy child to managing a shift of 42 people in the operations room at RAF Middle Wallop. After the war, Patricia continued her association with flying and joined BOAC; initially based at Hurn and then at Heathrow. Her talents were soon spotted and she was asked to go to Cairo, by flying boat, to manage one of the local offices. Her 9 months in Cairo were full of the colour and vibrancy of this exciting city. Returning to the UK, she became a stewardess on Constellations and Stratocruisers, enjoying the privileges of overseas travel at a time when the rest of the country was still suffering with rationing. However, after marriage, she gave up flying and embarked on a new career – that of an expat wife and mother.