The flying typist

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 17

The flying typist

“Stars in my Hair,” a radio play by a New Zea-land-born writer, Bruce Stewart tells the story of. the pioneer flyer of the 19305, Amy Johnson. An obscure typist from Hull, with only 100 hours flying experience, she captured the world’s imagination and became a national celebrity overnight with her recordbreaking solo flight from England to Australia between May 5 and 24, 1930, 50 years ago this month. The sudden fame and prospect of riches brought their own problems, and Amy’s marriage to a fellow aviator. Jim Mollison, was dissolved after six years, unable to survive the strain of Mollison’s heavy' drinking and the relentless publicity. The play traces the breakdown of the marriage and her early struggles to prove herself in the male dominated world of flying. Joana Derrill plays the part of Amy, and Peter VereJones her husband, Jim Mollison. Gilbert Goldie produced “Stars in My Hair” for Radio New Zealand’s National programme.