A FORMER Alton girl is helping raise the bar for women in engineering with a career in the RAF.

Hannah Fry, 21, was a pupil of Eggar’s School and then Alton College, where she studied English language, ICT, history and photography before trying a job in retail, but she soon realised that it wasn’t for her, so she joined the RAF.

She said: “I joined the RAF as an engineer because I wanted to do something different. A lot of my friends ended up going to university and I knew that wasn’t for me. I wanted a more hands-on job and an apprenticeship seemed perfect.

“I always knew I wanted to do something to do with engineering as I love understanding how things work and then how to fix it.”

RAF Cosford is the home of aeronautical engineering and it is where Hannah completed her initial aircraft maintenance mechanics’ course. After just five months Hannah was posted to her first operational station at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire where she spent a year, and she

was in her element.

“It was brilliant, being able to travel with the aircraft you work on is an experience I will never forget. It was such an eye opener into the life of the RAF. I got to try both mechanical and avionics engineering. It was hard work but interesting and fun, and I also made friends for life.”

Back at RAF Cosford, Hannah is currently studying on an avionics course which, once complete, will enable her to move on as a fully-qualified engineer in avionics to continue her career in the wider Royal Air Force.

Hannah said: “The RAF offers more than just a job. As well as having a great career I get the support to continue with one of my favourite hobbies, which is playing cricket.”

Hannah was selected for the RAF women’s cricket team and recently competed in the inter-services tournament.

Her story was flagged up in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day.