Woman, 99, becomes world's oldest wing walker

A 99-year-old woman has broken a record to become the world's oldest wing walker.

Helga Duffy saw 97-year-old Betty Bromage doing the same thing on the news and wanted to give it a try.

Helga - who said the wing walk feeling was "peculiar" - now lives in a care home in Devizes, Wiltshire, but lived in Frome in Somerset for many years.

Helga said of the flight where she was strapped to the top of a small plane: "I wasn't frightened because I was so excited."

She completed her wing walk at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, raising money for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance in the process.

Helga was the eldest of seven children, and said her father would have been proud.

"He expected the best of us. So I always tried. I think if he's still there somewhere, he'd be very proud of his firstborn."

She was presented with a certificate by officials from Guinness World Records at the airfield.

Her nieces Jackie Rose and Julie Preece, who watched the flight, described Helga as an "independent" and "forthright lady".

"She's wanted to do something different for so long. She just wanted to prove that actually even though she's 99, she's still that lady she was years and years ago," said Jackie.

It was emotional for the two women that Helga was raising money for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, as their mother made her "final journey" in one.

Sam Conway, from the air ambulance charity, called Helga a "legend", as she has raised more than £1,300 for it.

"She looks as though she's had the time of her life," she added.

Meanwhile, Betty - whose record she beat - offered her congratulations, but joked: "I can't wait until I'm 100 and I can do it again, I'll beat you again."

Betty, who has already completed six wing walks, said: "I really enjoy doing it - it's a bit frightening at first isn't it? Just the apprehension of it."

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