A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER has lived her dream and taken to the skies over East Lothian.

Jenny Lyall, 84, was the passenger in a microlight, taking off from East Fortune Airfield, earlier this month.

The small aircraft, piloted by Kim Ritchie, gave Jenny the chance to look over her home in Haddington.

Clients at the town’s day centre, managed by Caroline Scott, have been outlining things they would like to do, from having a holiday in the spring to going on the London Eye.

For Jenny, though, it was a chance to take to the skies.

She said: “I’ve always watched the microlights going over and would be sitting in the garden saying: ‘I quite fancy doing that.’

“When Caroline asked if there was anything anybody would like to do I said I would like to go up in a microlight.”

A few days later Jenny received a phone call telling her there was a surprise for her at the day centre and she said she was thrilled when she found out that was a microlight flight, adding: “I thoroughly enjoyed it – I would do it again tomorrow.

“Not bad for an 84-year-old!”

Caroline was delighted to be able to help. She said: “We have been getting people to come up with ideas. One lady wanted to re-join the library and we have managed that. A couple of people wanted to go to the theatre, it was simple things, but things they could not do for whatever reason.

“Jenny was the bravest, though, and I was really taken aback.”

Caroline got in touch with East of Scotland Microlights, who offered the chance for Jenny to take to the sky.

Jenny, who has two grandchildren and a great-grandchild, said: “When I was told, my mind just went blank and I thought: ‘I cannot believe it.’

“We went up to 1,000 feet and we went by Bass Rock and over North Berwick. Then Kim asked me if I would like to go over Haddington and I said: ‘Yes please.’ I saw the High Street and said: ‘There is my house – the cats were in.’”

Jenny, of Langriggs, described the view of East Lothian from 1,000 feet as “completely different”.

She added: “I have to thank Caroline and the day centre very much for making my wish come true. I never thought I would be able to do this.”

Kim, who has been flying for 17 years, was delighted to help Jenny fulfil her wish.

She said: “It is great to have a wee mission. Somebody says ‘could you fly over my house?’ and it gives you a wee bit more of an incentive and purpose for your flight; it was really nice.”