Sylvia Endacott, 47, hated the thought of flying so much, just watching TV travel programmes brought her out in a sweat. A bit embarrassing in her job – she was the personnel manager for a holiday company.

"I had no problems making a speech in front of 200 people but if my boss suggested I should fly somewhere for a meeting, I'd be straight on the phone to British Rail." she says. Sylvia never had flown until just over two years ago. Desperate to see the world, she finally plucked up courage - not to fly but to phone and enquire about the Freedom to Fly™ course.

The course took place over two days, a week apart. It involved Sylvia and three other people talking through their fears with a psychologist, and learning individual techniques to overcome their difficulties. "I realised I wasn't alone," Sylvia says. "Their phobias about flying weren't really rational. Which meant that mine weren't either."

At the second session she was on her first plane and flew to Europe. Initially she was terrified. "I felt out of control and desperately wanted to get off. My whole body shook for every minute of the journey but, when we landed I felt an enormous sense of achievement. I'd finally done it." The return journey was considerably easier, and to her amazement she even enjoyed it! Since then, there's been no stopping her. Paris, Malta, Rhodes, Florida, San Francisco - she's flown them all.

"Flying has changed my life and I can't wait for my next holiday. Tenerife at Christmas." she says.

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