Welch, Ann (1917–2002)
Welch, Ann (1917–2002)
English pilot, writer and aviation historian. Name variations: Ann Courtenay Welch; Ann Edmonds or Ann Courtenay Edmonds. Born Ann Courtenay Edmonds, May 20, 1917, in London, England; died Dec 5, 2002; dau. of Lt.-Col. Edmonds, a railway engineer; m. Graham Douglas, 1938; Lorne Welch, 1953 (died 1998); children: (1st m.) 2; (2nd m.) 1.
Expert glider pilot, earned a pilot's license at age 17 (1934); began to glide (1937); established (1938) and served as the head instructor of the Surrey Gliding Club (1938–39), later part of the Lasham Gliding Centre, the world's largest gliding club; during WWII, worked at Air Transport Auxiliary; taught air gliding (1944–84); managed the British gliding team in world championships in England (1948–68); held the British women's goal distance record of 528 km. (1961–98); served as the British delegate to Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAI); founded the Microlight and the Hang Gliding Commission; served as chair of Royal Aeronautical Society Light Aviation Group; wrote New Soaring Pilot (1968) and The Story of Gliding (1980) and 2 children's books. Made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (1953) and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1966).