West Midlands pensioner still flying high at 90

Pensioner Paddy Elliot is still flying high at the age of 90 as one of the world’s oldest pilots.

He celebrated his landmark birthday on St Patrick’s Day and is still taking to the air, having only taken up flying when he retired at the age of 64.

Mr Elliot also still works five days a week too, manning the operations desk at South Warwickshire Flying School at Wellesbourne Aerodrome, where he has been a member since 1989 and more recently a director.

Born Alfred Ernest Elliott in Shirley, Solihull, in 1925, Mr Elliot is looking forward to continuing as a pilot after recently passing a medical giving him the all-clear to carry on.

Although he served in the Royal Air Force and has always had an interest in planes it was only when he reached retirement that he had a chance to learn how to fly.

Mr Elliot said he was delighted to have recently been given the medical all-clear to continue.

He said: “You have to pass the same medical as everyone else - ECGs and all the tests. It’s exactly the same medical as for someone who is 25. I got the okay and that was it.”

As a boy Mr Elliot attended Sharmans Cross School in Solihull and later went to Birmingham Central Technical College as an apprentice toolmaker for the Austin Motor Company.

It was as a young apprentice at Austin that he first came into contact with aeroplanes, as the car-maker produced components as part of the war effort.

At the end of the war Mr Elliot was called-up for national service and served in the RAF.

On his return to civilian life, he re-joined Austin and went to work in the press tool department.

He later became a supervisor and subsequently covered various production activities, from engine components to body and vehicle assembly.

Following a 50-year career he retired from Rover cars in 1988.