Introducing Lady Mary

Some of you might have never heard the name, but I assure you, her story soars higher than the planes she flew. Born as Sophie Catherine Theresa Mary Peirce-Evans in 1896, Lady Mary Heath was a trailblazer in every sense. A woman who defied the limitations of her time, she made history across the skies, the land, and in the hearts of anyone who dared to dream big.

Tragedy struck early in her life—her father having killed her mother in a violent rage was declared insane, rather than break her spirit, this only strengthened her resolve. Imagine it: growing up in Ireland in the early 20th century, a time when women were expected to know their place. A woman’s ambition was, at best, supposed to reach no further than the boundaries of her own home. But that wasn’t for Sophie. Her wings stretched far beyond societal expectations. Even as a child, she was determined to chart her own course. Headstrong but protected by her family, from the gossip and speculation about her mother and father she was sheltered in the town of Newcastle West as best they could.
A tall, strong and striking young woman, almost 6ft and 12 stone by the time she was 12 ,she was no shrinking violet, isolated at home and not allowed go to the local school she longed for freedom, finally attending a series of Boarding schools throughout her teens, where, against the wishes of her family, she was very involved in playing sports and exceled at athletics. She defied expectation once again and went on to further education to study science and agriculture, declaring herself uncomfortable in a ball room or at afternoon tea and resolved to be out in the air, running, jumping and being free as often as possible.

By the time she was in her twenties, she was a national sports hero. She competed in everything—tennis, cycling, rowing, and most famously, track and field. In fact, she was the first woman to represent Ireland at the Women’s Olympics in 1922. That was just the beginning. Marrying young to her first husband Captain Elliott Lynn she served in the women’s auxiliary corps in World War I, serving as a dispatch motorcycle rider and an ambulance driver on the front lines.

It wasn’t enough for her to conquer the ground. No, the sky was calling. Sophie trained as a pilot in 1925 the early days of aviation and at a time when the idea of women flying planes was met with incredulity. She became one of the first women in the world to earn a commercial flying license, breaking barriers not just for herself, but for all women, campaigning for the rescinding of the ban on women receiving B licences in 1926. In 1928, she undertook her most famous journey—flying solo from Cape Town, South Africa, all the way to London. A distance of over 9,000 miles! It was a harrowing journey, filled with dangers—mechanical failures, uncharted airfields, and hostile weather. But she did it. She landed in London as a hero, her name on the lips of every newspaper in the world.

But, Lady Mary, as she became known after her second marriage to Sir James Heath in 1927, was more than just a pilot; she was a force of nature. She fought fiercely for the inclusion of women in aviation and sports. She co-authored the first practical flying manual for women. She saw a world that was closed off to her gender and said, “Why not?” Why can’t women fly? Why can’t women compete? Why can’t women lead? She competed in air races, aero acrobatic displays and flying exhibitions around the world and was arguably the most famous Irish person globally form 1925 to 1929.

Of course, her life wasn’t without turbulence. Multiple marriages, financial hardships, and even a near-fatal crash at the Cleveland Air Races in 1929—her journey was anything but smooth. Yet, every time life knocked her down, she got back up, dusted off her wings, and took to the skies again.

Lady Mary Heath lived a life that was as adventurous as it was courageous. She wasn’t just an aviator, or an athlete, or an advocate. She was a symbol—of daring, of resilience, and of the boundless human spirit. So, next time you hear the roar of an engine overhead, take a moment to think of her. Lady Mary, who defied gravity long before many thought it possible. After all, some women aren’t born to stay on the ground!