Flying is in Helen Woods's blood. In real life she directs pilots through the skies as an air traffic controller at RAF Brize Norton.

And in her spare time she has taken on the role of Peter Pan in an amateur theatre production.

In a previous role she played Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream - another fictional character with an airborne role. Helen, a 29-year-old flight lieutenant at the Oxfordshire base, said: "I always seem to get the ones that fly.

"Maybe it's because I'm the smallest, most energetic one around."

She works in the visual room of the air traffic control tower at Brize Norton.

The job involves keeping track of aircraft using the base and those in the skies around it. Helen joined the RAF ten years ago and was posted to Brize Norton two years ago. She has made a big impact with the RAF Brize Norton Theatre Club. She won best actress award in last year's RAF UK Drama Festival, where she played the roles of twin sisters in a production called Wanted - One Body.

The award was presented to her by station commander Grp Capt Peter Ollis.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get to fly on stage," said Helen. "Safety regulations ruled it out, so we used roller skates instead.

"I love the theatre and have been involved since I was nine. We have a great drama club here."

Helen shares her passion for the theatre with colleagues SAC Kate Lintott and Flt Lt John Metcalf.

They also had roles in Peter Pan - as the Crocodile and Captain Hook.

Story date: Tuesday 22 February

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