First woman glider pilot dies at 101

The first amateur woman glider pilot in Wolverhampton, whose marriage united two of the city's biggest retailing families, has died aged 101.

Nellie Hudson was the daughter of Frederick Gill, founder of F.A. Gill's pork pie and sausage firm in Parkfields, and the wife of William Hudson, managing director of Hudson & Sons, the handbag firm founded in 1801 and still trading in the Mander Centre. But she was also a personality in her own right, who travelled twice around the world on her own and took an active part in civic and community life.

After leaving Wolverhampton Girls' High School at 15, she worked for her father in the butchery business. She joined a gliding club formed by a group of men at Clive Farm, Pattingham, with her husband-to-be William in the 1920s.

Their only child Peter Hudson, aged 71, of Tettenhall, said his mother took to the air without a helmet or safety harness, and only a backrest and joystick for balance.

"They flew in a Zogling design glider which they built themselves from a kit made in Germany and were catapulted into the air using an elastic rope.

"The launch site overlooks the Bridgnorth road and is still called Glider Bank."

The newlyweds lived in Castlecroft Gardens, Wolverhampton, in one of the distinctive houses erected using salvaged materials from demolished timber-frame buildings. Mrs Hudson was a member and president of the Wolverhampton Inner Wheel and also former chairwoman of the Wolverhampton Women's Luncheon Club.

Widowed in 1963, she became involved in the 1970s and 80s with the Wolverhampton Group of Hospitals. She was also on the finance committee and involved in the design of New Cross Hospital.

Mrs Hudson retired only because of failing eyesight. She died on February 1 at Hampton Court Residential Home and her funeral is at 11.30am tomorrow at St Michael and All Angels Church, in Tettenhall.

Mr Hudson added: "She was a great adventurer. As well as her gliding exploits, she travelled round the world twice on her own and drove till she was 80. She had a good life and enjoyed every minute of it."