Diana was my great-great aunt and, although I never met her because she passed away when I was young, I remember that I did a project about her in year 2 which we sent to her. We still have the reply. I am also really interested in my family history and I have read most of 'Spreading My Wings.' She really was an amazing person

marilyne

11 years ago

Hi, I'm a french journalist, working for the magazine "Le Fana de l'Aviation". I'm writing an article about the english women in The Air Transport Auxiliary. I would like to get in touch with Diana's familly in order to learn more about her. Thank you for your help ! Bes regards

I used to hunt with the Old Surrey and Burstow when I was a child. I remember Diana Barnato Walker being one of the masters. This would have been in the 1970s. She was always superbly mounted and looked extremely elegant in her black Jacket. I had no idea of her illustrious past at that time.

I remember the first time I saw her sitting in my grandparents Living room in Kirkland Washington. I was between nine and eleven years old, and had just walked home from school and was introduced to her. My grandmother Thurber said this is Diana, she is your grandfather cousin from England. I looked at my grandmother with question in my eyes and she said, "She is your cousin too". I was blown our of the water. I thought, wait I have family in England. I sat on the couch and talked with her about england and her house and her horses. She told me about the fox hunts and her being a master of the hounds and leading the pack. I sat in awe of her, this woman who had lived a life so full and with so much service, I wanted to grow up to be like her. She talked about me going over to England with my grandparent and staying with her during the summer, however that never happened. Don't get me wrong it had nothing to do with her, my life just got to busy. Then June 1984, I was in a boating accident and a few months later my grandfather Pomeroy Falk Thurber passed away. I will never forget Diana, she made me hope, wonder and cling to my dreams I still hope to someday make it to England, and see the wonder she talked about. Judy Fortier-Sanchez

Kevin Davis

12 years ago

Hello, You are probably aware of this but just in case, there is film of Diana Barnato Walker on Youtube and Quintessence Films in England made a film "Forgotten Pilots" . Three separate half hour programs about the ATA which featured her quite frequently. I have just purchased a copy from Mat Lingard the writer and director. It's very good.

My Father was an evacuee on Woolf Barnato`s estate sent there for a rehearsal at the age of 11, war started and he didn`t leave for 18 months. I wrote to Diana after buying her book and she replied very promptly, she said that she remembered a group of east end boys staying on the estate and that they were provided with uniforms from M&S and they lived in the gatehouse in dormatories, I wrote one further letter to her and received a reply which I presented to my Father (Charles Hadkiss) along with the book `Spreading my Wings`. So grateful to her for sharing her memories with a complete stranger.

I never met Diana Barnato-Walker except in books. I first learned of her in Little Friends, then discovered more online at an RAF history website. Finally, I obtained a copy of her autobiography, Spreading My Wings. She and her generation certainly have served as an inspiration to me. I hope they are not forgotten.

Your strength and determination to defend our country will always be remembered...RIP