IT’S never to late to reach for the skies – and Audrey Cook proved just that by taking a flight in a glider for her 90th birthday.

Thanks to the council-run strength and balance classes she attends, Audrey defied gravity by soaring on high for 40 minutes.

Audrey has been attending the Forest of Dean District Council’s Falls Prevention classes in Newent for three years, maintaining her strength, balance and confidence after sustaining a fall in 2016.

The Community Wellbeing Team and her instructor Antonia Vassiloudis are incredibly proud of her progress since she was referred to the classes by her physiotherapist.

The glider flight from Nympsfield Airfield near Stonehouse was only possible on condition that Audrey got in and out of the cockpit herself, which she was able to do.

Audrey admits she wouldn’t have had the ability or confidence to climb on board 12 months ago, but now the sky’s the limit for the 90-year-old.

Of her flight last month, Audrey said: “I was very apprehensive before, and it wasn’t at all what I expected.

“I had expected to tour around the sky smoothly with no noise, but it was very bumpy.

“Even the pilot from the Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Clubs said it was lumpy,” added Audrey, who is one of seven children, with four brothers and two sisters.

And when she was asked “Would you do it again?” Audrey shook her head and replied: “Not this week, wait until I’m 100.!”

Audrey’s 90th birthday celebrations also included a trip to the Concorde Museum at Filton in Bristol.

A council spokeswoman said that last year there was a change of instructor at the falls prevention classes and a change of day for the group in Newent.

This meant moving from the regular Wednesdays to a Friday, which proved a little disruptive.

But despite switching, instructor Antonia Vassiloudis has been fantastic, and has really kept the participants motivated and continuing to improve, she added.

“Audrey has actually moved groups to the more advanced and progressive session on Fridays.

“Despite some initial concern and reluctance to move groups, Audrey has really taken to the sessions,” she said.

The Forest Council runs an exercise referral scheme (www.fdean.gov.uk/residents/health-leisure/exercise-referral-scheme) and a falls prevention scheme (www.fdean.gov.uk/residents/health-leisure/falls-prevention-scheme).

Classes are held throughout the Forest and the team can also link people to other groups, activities and interests.

The Community Wellbeing team can be contacted on 01594 812447, and the first session is free and then £3 per class.