London (TAN): To mark Mother’s Day, which the UK celebrates on March 31, British Airways recently operated a flight with five pairs of mothers and their respective children as the crew.
The flight took off from London Heathrow Airport for Abu Dhabi with 10 crew members on onboard, all of them mother-child pairs.
Hailing from different parts of the country, this was an opportunity for them to celebrate together since many will be apart on the actual Mother’s Day.
“We have so many amazing people that work at British Airways including mothers and their sons and daughters,” British Airways director of people Angela Williams said.
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“As we mark Mother’s Day, it has been great to hear what inspired them to join our business – regardless of their age,” she added.
For Christina Shepherd, who joined British Airways in 2013, it was “a really special trip” because it was “wonderful to work with my daughter” Trinette who began in 2008.
“Trinette is more experienced than me but she didn’t boss me around. When I was on my break she insisted I put my feet up and she made me a cup of coffee in a special mug with ‘mum’ on it,” she said.
Daughter Trinette said: “I am inspired by my mum’s confidence and bravery to apply to become cabin crew at her age. She’s embraced the role and lifestyle, she now inspires other crew – all at the ripe young age of 62. She’s the first person I call when I need advice. I could not be prouder to call her my mother.”
Maria Bygrave, mother, who joined in 2015, inspired daughter Leah to follow in her footseps.
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Leah, who started three years later, said: “My mum treats all her customers like family, so it felt like a family business from the start.”
“Now we get to travel the world together and share memories with each other that we can look back on in years to come,” she added.
“It was lovely to work together, once the customers realised we were mum and daughter they thought it was amazing. The whole flight was like one big happy family,” Maria added.
Mark Eastaugh started ahead of his mother Margaret in 2013.
“Before mum joined, she was talking to some mature crew who encouraged her to apply. After a 30-year career in civil service, I was really proud she got the job,” Mark said.
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His mother Margaret, who joined last year, said: “It was the proudest moment of my life when Mark got this job. And then I got a job at British Airways too! We get on so well, so I’ve always wanted to fly together. It was a surprise until our rosters came through – as Mother’s Day treats go, this will take a lot of beating.”
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