Cookie12

03/10/2012 Very sorry to say Lesley died a few days ago in Ireland. Peter her husband died a few years ago. Chris Barnes (ex pupil EMSF) 01538 702544

fireflybob

Very sorry to hear the news.

Remember when her father brought her to East Midland School of Flying when she was about 17 years old.

My father, Hector, did much of her early flying training and I was also there when he sent her first solo.

Airstripflyer

Very sad news indeed. I was a member of EMSF when she was instructing there in the early 70's. According to my logbook she checked me out in the 172.

Georgeablelovehowindia

If this is the ever-cheerful Lesley Hardy who flew as a first officer on the Dart Herald at BAF - Feb/Mar 1978 in my logbook - then this a bit of a shock, because she could only have been aged early sixty-ish. She left BAF to join ABC on the Argosy at East Midlands.

Along with Caroline Frost and stewardesses Liz Howard and Hildegarde Donbavand, she was in BAF's first all-female crew, which got quite a lot of publicity at the time.

Cookie12

Having been taught by Lesley it was your father who cleared me for my first solo. Rumour has it on her first solo Lesley spent the downwind leg cleaning the cabin of all the old sweet wrappers etc !

Cookie12

Yes it is the same Lesley who was part of that first all-female crew.
She retired to a place near Shannon with her late husband Peter (also a commercial pilot) and did some instructing and air accident investigation. She was only 59. Sad.

t211

HI everyone I am sorry to hear of another aviator has passed away If you do not mind me asking was her Husband the same Peter Hardy who flew for Dan-Air.

Cookie12

Yes , her husbands name was Peter and I believe he flew for Danair

t211

Pete, I am sorry for your loss I Know your wife was very dear to you.And she can never be replaced. Hope she has gone to the big Flying club In the Sky. with very best regards for the Future.

Ex SFO Dan-Air

Cookie12

The condolences to Lesleys Husband Peter are I regret misplaced - Peter died some three years ago

cometracer

I flew with Leslie with ABC on the Merchantman when she got her command. She was a one-off, most entertaining and a professional aviator. Very sad to hear of her early passing, proceeded by Peter some years ago. I well remember the huge emblem of an Eagle on the bonnet of her powerful American sports car with the motto 'On the edge of Forever'. RIP Leslie.

t211

Hi Cookie 12, I had no Idea that Pete had Passed away So sorry.

Best Regards

millerscourt

t211 If you read the very first post you would have seen it said Peter her husband had died!!

Senior Paper Monitor

Really sorry to hear this - Lesley did most of my PPL instruction - thanks for the lessons and lots of laughs - Fly High

anclare

lesley was a great lady, we lived near her here in ireland She always talked about her time Flying , She loved planes and her german shepard dogs which will miss her greatly, she would have celebrated her 59th birthday the 26th of october,

IcePack

Very sad news, quite a Lady.
Very fond memory's of her in the BAF days especially doing the run to the Shetlands in the Herald. 1 very capable pilot. Yep on the edge of forever RIP

netsurfa9

Very Sad to hear the news. She was a vibrant and enthusiastic woman. I new her when she first turned up to learn at the EMSOF.

OldChinaHand

I believe I crewed up on perhaps her last Flight , L188 at EINN with HCA(IRL). I only knew Lesley for a few months and she was an unforgettable character. A genuinely lovely and entertaining colleague who was always good for a laugh and a joke. She brought out the best in all. She told me that she was happy to hang up her wings, because she now preferred to spend her time with her pack of German Sheperds at Six Mile Bridge. God speed Lesley and I hope you enjoyed retirement, RIP.