How Guernsey made Britain's first woman captain

"She wasn't allowed to speak on the intercom, because the passengers would be frightened to think they'd been flown by a woman."

Candy Adkins' mum, Jackie Moggridge, became Britain's first woman commercial airline captain in 1957.

She earned her wings and her place in aviation history, flying passengers to Guernsey and Jersey. She was born in South Africa, and had her sights on flying at a time when aviation was almost entirely closed to women.

"She never understood why it should be strange for a woman to fly," said Adkins.

In 1938, there were no aeronautical colleges in South Africa so she came to Witney, Oxfordshire, where she was the only woman on her aviation course.

Then World War Two broke out.

Moggridge initially served doing radar work, watching the Battle of Britain unfold on screens.

She later joined the Air Transport Auxiliary ferrying aircraft between factories and airfields across the world.

"She flew everything they gave her," said Adkins.

"Damaged planes, unfamiliar aircraft, often on her own and in terrible conditions."

During World War Two, Moggridge flew 1,438 aircraft and 83 different types of war planes, Adkins said.

She said, despite the danger and the skill required, female pilots were often treated with disbelief, barred from mess halls and questioned after every incident.

"They just got on with it," said Adkins.

"They felt lucky to be there, even when people did not believe they could do the job."

After the war ended, women pilots were "kicked out and most never flew again", Adkins said.

Moggridge returned to complete her commercial flight training, determined to become an airline pilot at a time when almost no airlines would employ a woman.

Then Channel Airways offered her the opportunity to fly scheduled passenger services from Portsmouth and Southampton to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Wight.

This made Moggridge Britain's first female commercial airline captain.

"She was so proud of that job," said Ms Adkins. "Channel Airways made it possible. Flying to Guernsey is what gave her the captain's title."

Despite her role, Adkins said she was not allowed to speak to passengers over the aircraft intercom in case they were frightened by a woman's voice.

During her time in Guernsey, she wrote poems about the island and the people she met while working there.

She even flew her family to the island on holiday, something her daughter still remembers vividly.

An Ode to British (C.I.) Airways

On a distant airfield of Guernsey's misty isle

Are three young traffic office staff,

Who greet all with a smile.

With all the charm of Galahads

They help in many ways,

To brighten up the pilots' stay

Though brief, it makes their day.

Now Phil will rush to clear the decks,

While Hilary the pax,

The luggage will be hauled around,

Whilst the pilots stop for snacks.

Whithin minutes all is done!

And blocks are waved away.

The boys of Guernsey, bless their hearts,

Have cheered the pilots' day.

Adkins said: "She loved Guernsey.

"She made friends there and she was so proud of the work she did flying in and out of the island."

Moggridge died in 2004, but her legacy continues through her daughter, who gives talks and shares her story to inspire future generations.

"She wanted women to know they could do anything," said Adkins.

"Becoming a commercial airline captain was the pinnacle for her, and Guernsey was a huge part of that journey."

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