Gliding 90-year-olds flying high

Seven OAPs went aloft with the Cotswold Gliding Club

A group of women in their 90s have been enjoying the high life - by taking gliding lessons.

Five residents of a Gloucester nursing home turned up for the trial flights on Tuesday morning.

They were joined by their friend Grace Nunan, who first took to the sky for her 90th birthday last month.

The group also allowed one man to join in, pensioner Ernie Brooks, a friend of the nursing home manager.

They were taken up over the Stroud valley by an instructor from the Cotswold Gliding Club, near Minchinhampton.

Deborah Percival, senior carer at Guild House nursing home, said: "We were shocked when they decided to do it - but great for them, really.

The Cotswold club wants adventurous fliers

"Some of them were nervous this morning and some were very excited.

"They were up early because they couldn't wait."

Grace Nunan was so taken with her flight in June that she went up for a second time.

She raised more than £2,000 for the homelessness charity Emmaus with her birthday trip.

Her friends at the home went along to watch last month's flight and decided they too wanted to try floating on air.

Formed club

They even formed their own club, the Gliding Nonagenarians, with a written set of rules.

But they bent them to allow Nell Skinner to join, aged only 84.

She is 12 years younger than fellow flier Peggy Barrett.

Flier Irene Hale: "Feels older"

Poor weather nearly grounded the club on its first outing, said Deborah Percival.

"When they were leaving it was raining and they were worried they would not get up in the air."

The instructor took advantage of a break in the weather - but had to keep the flights short.

Two club members, Irene Hale and Brenig Owen, also took up surfing last year - but only on the internet.

They have their own web pages, written as part of a silver surfers project.

On hers, Mrs Hale declares: "I am 90, but I sometimes feel 190."