97-year-old Elizabeth Bromage becomes oldest wing walker
Elizabeth Bromage, aged 97, broke her own world record as the oldest wing walker.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
97-year-old Betty Bromage breaks her own world record as oldest wing walker
A 97-year-old former nurse from Cheltenham has broken her own world record as the oldest female wing walker. Elizabeth Bromage, known as Betty, took to the skies over Snowdonia strapped to the top of a biplane, completing a series of manoeuvres including a barrel roll.
Betty first took up wing walking ten years ago at the age of 87. Since then she has abseiled down a tower in Cheltenham and ridden a zip wire in Snowdonia. Her latest flight was to raise money for the stroke unit at Cheltenham General Hospital, where she was treated after suffering a stroke last year.
She said the stroke affected her speech but not her physical abilities. "I go to say a word and it doesn't always come out. But the rest of me, I'm physically a bit, well, for a 97-year-old," she told reporters.
Betty is partially sighted, but that did not stop her. Friends and neighbours from her retirement village watched nervously from the ground. One said: "She's partially sighted, in fact almost blind. And yet she can do this. At her age, it's just amazing."
The flight lasted about 15 minutes. Betty asked the pilot to include a barrel roll, which she described as "a bit hair-raising". She added: "You're concentrating, you're moving so fast. Just think well, it'll be over in a few minutes so it'll be alright."
The stunt raised more than a thousand pounds for the stroke unit. Staff sent a good luck message before the flight, expressing gratitude for her support.
Betty lives by a motto she learned while working at a Dr Barnardo's home in Bristol: "We pass through this world but once. Any good we can do, any kindness we can show, do it now. Do not defer or neglect it. You'll not pass this way again."
She has already promised to take to the skies again when she turns 100 in two and a half years. "If I am still here at 100, I'll have a go," she said.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bromage, aged 97, is the world's oldest wing walker, having started at age 87 and broken her own world record. | |||
| The wing walk raised money for the stroke unit that treated her. | |||
| Betty suffered a stroke last year. | · | ||
| She plans to wing walk again when she turns 100. | · | ||
| Betty performed a loop the loop and a barrel roll during her wing walk. | · | · | |
| She asked the pilot to perform a barrel roll during the flight. | · | · | |
| She is partially sighted, almost blind. | · | · | |
| She previously abseiled down a tower and taken on a zip wire. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This report provided a comprehensive narrative, covering Betty's background, her stroke, the fundraising for Cheltenham's stroke unit, and her future plans. It included reactions from friends and staff, and highlighted her personal motto. The tone was admiring but factual, with a focus on her determination and the community support.
- “I just get bored with life otherwise.”
- “We've passed through this world but once. Any good we can do, any kindness we can show, do it now.”
- “In two and a half years time, Betty is promised to take to the skies again when she turns 100.”
This was a very brief mention, almost a throwaway line at the end of the bulletin. It focused only on the fact that she broke her own record and started at 87, with a positive 'never too late' message. No details about the stroke, fundraising, or future plans were included.
- “She actually broke her own world record.”
- “She started wing walking at 87, so it's never too late to start.”
This report was similar to the BBC NEWS coverage but placed more emphasis on the reactions of friends and the fact that Betty is partially sighted. It included a longer interview with a neighbour expressing awe. The tone was admiring, highlighting her courage and the community's pride.
- “Go, Betty!”
- “What was it like watching her doing those loop-de-loops? Awful.”
- “She's partially sighted, in fact, almost blind. And yet she can do this.”
This was a live interview with Betty, making it the most personal and inspirational segment. The host praised her as a role model. Betty spoke directly about her stroke recovery, her dislike of the word 'can't', and her plans for age 100. The focus was on her attitude and the fundraising for the Stroke Society.
- “I don't believe in the word can't. I will if I can. I'll have a jolly good try.”
- “But if I am still here at 100, I'll have a go.”
- “The word can't I don't like.”
This was a short segment that focused on Betty's daring stunts (loop the loop and barrel roll) and her personal motto. It ended with her plan to take another challenge at 100. The tone was light and admiring, with a quick transition to weather.
- “I did the loop the loop and the barrel roll.”
- “We passed through this world but once... do it now.”
- “She says she's planning on taking another daring challenge when she turns 100.”
Broadcast Timeline
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