High-flier Maureen takes to the road for National Express

The one-time commercial pilot has landed a role as an ambassador for coach travel, hitting the road on behalf of fellow senior citizens.

Maureen, 78, who worked as an air hostess before becoming one of the first women to hold a pilot’s licence, will be travelling the nation’s highways to champion affordable tickets for the elderly.

As a National Express ambassador she will get free travel in return for feedback about the UK’s largest coach company.

“I can’t wait to hit the road,” said Maureen at home in Walton-le-Dale.

“As an air hostess and an airline pilot I travelled all over the world to far-flung and exotic places like Fiji, Hong Kong and Singapore. But even though I have travelled so extensively, I still really appreciate our countryside and cities here in the UK.

“I’m very much looking forward to being a National Express ambassador as I love travel and meeting people and believe coach travel offers a really important means for senior people to travel affordably and to connect with friends and family all over the UK.”

Maureen took to the skies as “trolley dolly” in the swinging sixties with BEA and BOAC. But in her spare time she started flying lessons and, after logging 500 hours in the air, finally achieved her dream. She retired in 1985.

National Express managing director Tom Stables said: “Maureen is a true transport pioneer and it’s hard to think of a better ambassador for our services – we are thrilled to have her on board.

“It’s so important senior citizens are able to travel affordably and the appointment of senior ambassadors to give us feedback underscores our total commitment to delivering a first-class service.”