The Dorking woman who fixed Spitfires in World War Two

The RAF's Spitfires and Hurricanes were powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, but pilots faced a frustrating disadvantage in combat. Born in 1909, she built a reputation not only as a talented engineer but also as a keen motorcycle racer.

The culprit was the Merlin's carburettor, but was tackled by Beatrice "Tilly" Shilling, one of Britain's pioneering female engineers.