AN 81-year-old Great Grandmother is to take to the skies on Saturday as she has her first gliding lesson - a present from her sons for her 82nd birthday.

Mrs Nora Bellis, who was born and has lived in her family home in Belmont Road, Watford, since 1920, has always had an adventurous streak and firmly believes in living life to the full.

She said: "I am really looking forward to it. We were watching some gliders once over my son's house and I said that I wanted to go up in one.

"Earlier this year my sons asked if I would still want to go up in a glider and I was amazed they remembered I had said that - because I did not. So they bought me a lesson for my birthday.

"It will be nice to be like a bird in the sky and up in the clouds.

"I once went in a two seater aeroplane when I was younger and I loved it - although my mother was down below having kittens."

When she was younger Mrs Bellis also loved going in speedboats and when she and her husband retired they took a car and caravan and travelled all over Europe.

Mrs Bellis has three sons, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mrs Bellis will take her first gliding lesson at Lasham Gliding Centre in Hampshire on Saturday and turn 82 the following Tuesday on July 2.

June 26, 2002 18:00