2025 Award Winners
The BWPA Muriel Sells Outstanding Support Trophy
This award is made to a female BWPA member who has supported the Association by actively representing the BWPA or by volunteering with the Association to meet its aims.
Recipient: Claire Hatton
Claire has been a dedicated and enthusiastic member of BWPA for nearly 30 years and thoroughly enjoys being involved. She devotes lots of time and energy to dealing with membership admissions, renewals and enquiries about membership, helping to interview new volunteers and she also regularly organises events for the North West Regional Group.
The BWPA Special Recognition Award
This award is made to any BWPA member in recognition of active support of women in aviation. This can include support of organisations whose aims align with those of the BWPA.
Recipient: Amy Chau
Amy has spent 20 years organising regular meet-ups for Essex and Hertfordshire Regional Group members with consistent enthusiasm. She has has built a vibrant and inclusive community that inspires pilots of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Recipient: Steph smith
In 2020, Steph founded the Midlands Regional Group with the goal of fostering a strong and supportive local flying community. Over the past five years, she has dedicated herself to growing and leading the group, creating a welcoming environment where women in aviation can connect, learn and share their experiences.
The BWPA Hilda Hewlett Young Pilot Trophy
This award is made to a British female BWPA member aged 17 to 30 who has demonstrated initiative and commitment in earning her Private Pilot Licence with the goal of a career in aviation, and who inspires her peers through action and example.
Recipient: Poppy Qureshi
Poppy showed great initiative in gaining her Private Pilot Licence. She has shown commitment to aviation by changing jobs to work at DEA, alongside studying towards her Airline Transport Pilot Licence exams. She has gone out of her way to help others and has formed valuable friendships within the aviation environment.
The BWPA Jackie Moggridge Career Achievement Cup
This award is made to a female pilot for achieving outstanding qualifications in her flying career.
Recipient: Charlotte Thorpe
Charlotte retired from flying with British Airways in December 2024, having joined the training scheme in 1989. She flew the 737 (-200 and -400), 757 and 767, 747-400, 777 and 787.
The BWPA Jack Brackenbury Photography Trophy
This award is made to a BWPA member for a striking or memorable aviation-related photograph or set of photographs, including those submitted for newsletter or website articles. This trophy, established in 2004 in memory of Jack Brackenbury, honours the way he recorded BWPA events.
Recipient: Louise Rotheram-Smith
Louise’s photograph of a sunset over an aircraft tail, submitted for the May 2025 Members’ Adventures, captures the golden hour from an unusual and memorable angle.
The BWPA OP Jones Gliding Cup
This award is made to a female pilot for a notable achievement or special contribution to gliding, hang gliding or paragliding.
Recipient: Kirsty Cameron
Kirsty has been a paraglider pilot for over 20 years and has been by far the top female paraglider pilot in the UK for the past few years. In 2025, she won the paragliding UK Cross Country league. It’s rare that women come high in the rankings and this is possibly the first time a woman has won this.
The following trophies were not awarded in 2025:
The BWPA Jean Lennox Bird Long Service Pendant
This award is made to a female pilot who has consistently served aviation, achieved goals and encouraged others.
The BWPA Faith Bennett Navigation Cup
This award is made to a British female pilot, or team of pilots, for an exceptional navigation exercise completed during the year. It should be a notable achievement or one that pushes personal limits.
The BWPA Chairwoman’s Challenge Trophy
This award is made to a female BWPA member for the most interesting or personally challenging flight within the set theme of the annual competition.
The BWPA Brabazon Outstanding Achievement Cup
This award is made to a female pilot for a particularly outstanding or noteworthy achievement in aviation. The trophy was presented to the BWPA by Lord Brabazon of Tara in 1959.
The BWPA Naomi Christy Personal Achievement Cup
This award is made to a British female BWPA member for aviation-related personal achievement. The award is for an achievement special to the recipient rather than a record or high-profile success.
