2024 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: Annabel Cook
Annabel does much behind the scenes at BWPA. Quiet, efficient and professional, ensuring things get done and completed to a high standard and on time. Her input into design projects is considered professional and insightful. Away from BWPA, Annabel’s work with FLYER, including the weekly Livestream, makes many contacts and expands the network for BWPA. The visibility that Annabel actively gives to the organisation and women pilots through the Livestream is priceless, and also gives BWPA a kudos with an audience who may not be based in the UK.
Annabel has been a great support to members in times of self doubt and when things have not gone according to plan. She has made time to listen and actively helped to help resolve stumbling blocks. A natural problem solver, who is very generous with her time, a valuable role model and asset, whose work in the background ensures a well run and efficient organisation that we can all be proud of.
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: Bronwyn Fraser
Bronwyn initially volunteered to help with rebuilding the website. This subsequently lead to her being responsible for the newsletter and helping develop the e-news, ultimately becoming a BWPA Director in the vital role of Secretary and making a lasting impact with her advice and comprehensive knowledge of the legal side of running the Association.
Recipient: Peter Austin
Peter Austin has been a member for several years, and during that time has consistently stood out as someone who gives huge support and encouragement. He regularly attends events, and invites members to his house for the musical evenings he hosts. He actively champions women in aviation in general and is often the first to congratulate the BWPA’s female members on their achievements and offer words of support when they face challenges.
Recipient: Catherine Hollywood
As Treasurer, Catherine helped change the way the BWPA finances are handled and was proactive in the protection of members’ assets. She has changed the style of accounting, and reviewed bank accounts, membership costs and fees, as well as working towards charitable status for the BWPA.
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.
Recipient: Isabelle Gledhill
Isabelle flew over seven schools in the Marches Academy, including her own school. Each has a logo representing a colour of the rainbow. Flying from Sleap with her instructor, she went over Marches School (red), Woodlands School (orange), Sir John Talbots (yellow), Lower Heath Primary (green), Grove School (blue), Shrewsbury Academy (indigo) and Oakmeadow Primary (violet).
This entry made imaginative use of the theme, and raised money and awareness for the Hope House children’s hospices.
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.
Recipient: Alicia Hempleman-Adams
In April 2024, Alicia flew a BX-3 hot air airship at a maximum height of 1,261 m, over a distance of 20.447 km and in a flight lasting for 1 hour and 5 minutes, taking off from Bethlehem, Connecticut, USA, setting three female airship world records.
Alicia was superbly supported by a fantastic local crew, who knew the airship and the area well. The previous days had been warm, with gusty winds, but the morning of the 23rd gave perfect conditions. Alicia had low hours on the airship and was flying across unknown territory, which was covered in huge stretches of woodland – it was an FAA condition that the flight was in this difficult area.
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.
Recipient: Amanda Harrison
Amanda Harrison had dreamed of becoming a pilot from a young age – particularly keen to recreate the adventures that the pioneers who flew the Tiger Moth. On 11 May 2019 she made that dream a reality. She took off solo from Biggin Hill, with the aim of flying to Darwin, Australia, in 20 days – just as Amy Johnson had done in 1930.
In 2024, Amanda had her book about the experience published – Solo2Darwin. She has hosted many talks to aviation groups about the book, and there has been widespread active encouragement and support amongst aviation groups for her writing.
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: Amelia Richardson
Amelia seems to live and breathe aviation and has achieved much in her career to date. From gliding, to gliding instructor, motor glider, and then PPL achieved in a very short space of time. There has been much support through scholarships and the support of her parents who travel long distances in order to enable her to fly.
There are a network of aviators and businesses who offer Amelia opportunities not available to those who are not in the spotlight, but that does not diminish the focus, determination and passion that Amelia demonstrates. She is proactive and is constantly looking for opportunities. An inspiring role model who utilises social media to enthuse and inspire others.
The following trophies were not awarded in 2024:
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 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.
The BWPA Jackie Moggridge Career Achievement Cup
This award is made to a female pilot for achieving outstanding qualifications in her flying career.
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.
