by Todd Kelsey
Chapter Twenty-One
Hastings by the Sea Reporter
Recent Birthdays
EDITH WALLACE – 98 YEARS OLD
Edith Wallace turns 98 today. Happy birthday, Edith! Edith is a resident of Hastings, was born here, and served as a ferry pilot during World War Two. Her husband Eric was a pilot in the RAF, and became the adopted son and heir to Lord Cranshaw. Edith and Eric spent time in the U.S. and always kept a residence in the U.K. as well. Edith is known for her flying school in the U.S. and a corresponding one here in the U.K., and was also an acquaintance of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Legends surround her service during World War Two, about her being trained in fighter tactics, and then training RAF pilots. Some rumors in town hint that she once fought in combat, but she will neither confirm or deny the rumors, and neither will the RAF. More recently, she stirred up some controversy in being the oldest pilot with a licence in Britain, and caused some embarrassment when she was denied her license at 90, due to her age, and then gathered press to witness her pass all the requirements for flying Wasafely, and got a petition signed by 100,000 people to let her fly. Go Edith!