World Without Walls

Beryl Markham was the first person to fly solo, non-stop from Britain to North America.  She was a non-conformist, was married three times, had many affairs including Prince Henry, third in line for the English throne.  Her Family moved to Kenya when Beryl was four, but her mother abandon Beryl when she was five and Kenyan tribesmen cared for her while her father worked the farm.

During WWI, she was sent to proper English school, but did not fit in and was expelled after three years.  Her father soon after abandoned her and she married a neighbor at 16, but soon divorced.  At 19, Beryl was first woman to be granted a racehorse trainer license in Kenya and won many races.  Her second husband encouraged her to fly, and Beryl was first woman in Africa to become a professional pilot delivering mail and supplies to gold mining camps.  On a dare she was first to fly westward across the Atlantic, no pilot had flown non-stop solo westward though several died trying.

In Hollywood with her third husband she was aviation advisor for Paramount Pictures, and during WWII joined Civil Air Patrol flying lookout along California coast.  After her third divorce, Beryl returned to Kenya and reestablish her career as a racehorse trainer.  From 1958 to 1979, horses she trained won dozens of classics and six times won East African Derby, Kenya’s top race.  Many books were written about her, and two movies made.  After a full legendary life she died in Kenya 1986 at 83.

Lupin Book Club to meet immediately following viewing