FRIENDS and colleagues have been remembering 'gifted and dedicated' Kay Draper, the 60-year-old Oare glider pilot who died after crashing while landing last week.

Mrs Draper, 60, who lived with her husband David in Sunnyhill Lane, Oare, had been flying gliders for more than 20 years, and was one of the country's top amateur pilots, winning the British Women's Championships and being a proud member of the British team who went on to win both the European and World Championships.

She died at the scene of the crash, which happened in a field in Bradley, Hants, not far from Lasham airfield, near Alton, from where she had taken off on Thursday morning. Mr and Mrs Draper, who both enjoyed the sport, had lived in Oare for several years. The couple had no children.

Mrs Draper was flying solo in what Hampshire Fire Service described as an 'engine powered glider' when the crash happened.

A spokesman for the Air Accident Investigation Branch said: "A team of AAIB investigators was deployed to the accident site to start an investigation. The wreckage is going to be examined and we will publish a report on our findings when our investigation is complete.

"If any safety issues are identified, we may issue safety recommendations intended to prevent similar accidents in the future."

Mrs Draper was an independent occupational therapist for Independence Works, working alongside a team to help rehabilitate people who have suffered from serious accidents.

Friends within the gliding community did not want to talk about the accident this week but Sarah Iceton, a friend and colleague from Independence Works, said: “It is dreadful, Kay was one of the founding members and worked with a lot of people. She will be greatly missed. We are all very sorry for her family and friends.

"It is such a massive loss to everyone who knew her.”

Lise Satherly, a case manager at Independent Works, which has members across the country, said: “Kay was a professional who enthused about her work and who inspired others to do the same, whether they were clients, commissioners or colleagues.

"She looked far and wide to find solutions to overcome obstacles she had identified, and sometimes found them in unexpected places. She had an open mind.

"Kay could always be relied upon to offer reasoned, calm advice when her colleagues contacted her with aspects of their practice they found challenging and difficult.

“Her interpersonal skills and sense of humour brought consensus amongst colleagues in meetings. Kay had an exceptionally high standard of personal and professional integrity and she embodied a generosity of spirit that made people trust her, feel encouraged and feel better from having spent time with her.

"Kay will be missed by all who were privileged to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers particularly go to her beloved husband Dave and extended family.”

Tributes to Mrs Draper also came from firms she had worked for, treating their clients.

Julie Birch, of insurers NFU Mutual, said: “As well as being a fantastically gifted and dedicated occupational therapist, who had worked with us supporting our most seriously injured claimants for almost 20 years, Kay was known for her great sense of humour, warmth and kindness and was regarded as a friend by a number of us too.”

Danielle Singer, partner at Clyde & Co LLP, the international law firm, said: “We were all enormously sad to hear about Kay's accident. Our thoughts are with her family and friends, and with all who have known and worked with her for so many years.

"She was a truly caring and talented OT and always a pleasure to work with.”