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Name: CHRISTIE-MILLER, Helen Mary 'Jane', Mrs

image of individualimage of individual

Photo Source: Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage

Nee: née Blandy-Jenkins, became Mrs Wynne-Eaton

Birth Date: 1894 Kingston Bagpuize

Death Date: 5 Nov 1955 Kensington

Profession: Pilot. 'Silver Jane'

Married: 1. In Chelsea 7 Aug 1914 Stephen William Miles Silver (1881-1969); 2. Charles Sandford Wynne-Eyton (1888-1944); 3. 1947 David Geoffrey Christie-Miller (1918-2010)

Children: 1. Nickel (son)

Book Reference: First Wheel

General Information:

First Wheel - "…. Jane Silver, or Silver Jane as she was called. Actually she was pure gold! She was a fabulous, wonderful woman, and amusing beyond all measure. When I [Bunny Allen] first arrived on the Soames' farms, Jane was living in a small house on one of the rivers, about 3 miles from my house. ………. She was just contemplating building a new and modern house to replace the old-fashioned thatched cottage which she was then living in.  To build a new house she wanted an architect, of course. They were few and far between up country in Kenya. So, she decided it was time for her to have a new 'boy friend' and he must be an architect. Jane was like a conjuror. She was apparently able to conjure up out of a top, or even a bowler hat, something that she required. She had parted from the silver mine in South Africa, I believe, and in a nonce the man she wanted was on her doorstep, able and willing. She had a most beautiful red and white house in no time at all, and we had some wonderful parties there, one way and another, in the years leading up to the War. After the lovely house was built, Jane shook the hat again and out came a most charming man, who had been an RAF pilot during the 1914-18 War. And this, just at a time when it was necessary for Jane to do quite a lot of flying around. He had his own plane. Also at about this period of time Jane, without shaking the hat, produced a fine and bonny baby son. She had the wit to name him Nickel - Nickel Silver. He went on to grow into a splendid boy, loved by all. As time went by, I heard of Jane's numerous adventures from time to time. If she got herself into any form of trouble, there was always some swain, standing on the sidelines to come to her rescue! A good instance of this was when she lost her temper a little in a Nairobi night club. To show her annoyance at some happening, or lack of happening, she drew her little pistol from her bag and shot at the big drum. Unfortunately the drummer had his foot on the other side of the drum, and it received the bullet. The drummer was rightfully indignant and decided to run Jane. But, believe it or not, Jane, at the "moment psychologique," produced a boyfriend who just happened to be a magistrate. This helped somewhat! This same ally also assisted Jane in another shooting incident in Mombasa Club. Apparently Jane got very indignant with the hall porter one day. To show her feelings she once more drew out her little pistol and fired it through the wooden boards of the ceiling. As bad luck would have it, and elderly member was sitting in his chair, up above, reading The Times. Jane's bullet went through the boards into the member's gouty foot. Luckily for Jane, the elderly member knew her and knew of her folly-like behaviour, and did not press the case very hard. The magistrate boyfriend also used his influence and everyone kissed and ended friends. ………"
Gazette 6 Dec 1955 probate
East Africa & Rhodesia - 24/11/55 - Mrs D. Christie-Miller, who has died in London after a long illness, settled in the Timau district of Kenya in 1925. Mrs Jane Wynne-Eyton, as she was then, after learning to fly, became one of the first private aircraft owners in the Colony, and joined the Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit at the outbreak of the last war. She was mentioned in despatches for service in the Ethiopian campaign, and was later appointed a pilot officer in the RAF Air Transport Auxiliary. She continued to use her aircraft after her marriage to Mr David Christie-Miller, an administrative officer in the Kenya service.
Fleming - His [Sandy Wynne-Eaton] Jane, was also a well-known pilot in Africa. She had been flying for 10 years when World War No. 2 was declared, and although over 40 years old insisted on doing her bit. She was made a Sgt.-Pilot in the WAAF's, but was then transferred to Air Transport Auxiliary, and flew in the Communications Squadron in Kenya up to the end of 1943. She had flown nearly 2,000 hours for the RAF during the War, and had a total of well over 4,000 hours, which must be nearly a record for a woman pilot. She was a first-class pilot. Jane was also a great character. She was medium height, with short, dark hair, full of life and fun, and enjoyed a good joke, or a good drink; she loved to try and shock people, and smoked about 50 cigarettes a day. Her stamina was amazing, nothing seemed to tire her; I have known her get up at 5 am (after a late night) fly solidly all day, then drive up to her farm 180 miles on a dangerous mountain road - and then set to and cook her supper on top of that.
Qualified as pilot Aug 1930. Flew to Kenya 2 months later. Started a flying business with Wynne-Eyton in E. Africa, delivering mail and transporting passengers.  see https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/14811519.the-lion-of-letcombe-regis-and-its-owner-helen-silver-as-told-by-trevor-hancock/

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