ad

High-flying Mary’s £1,200 charity leap

Published date: 04 August 2010 |
Published by: Rhian Waller


 

A FEARLESS Rhyl payroll manager took a break from the office to jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet.


Mary Wallace, 64, raised £1,200 for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association charity by taking part in a tandem-parachute jump event.


The jump involved a 45-second freefall followed by a five-minute fall to earth under a parachute canopy.


Mary loved the jump so much she now intends to train so she can skydive out of a plane by herself.


She said: “It was unbelievable, absolutely brilliant. I wasn’t nervous at all - I think I was too excited to be nervous!


“The freefall takes your breath away and you really do feel like you are flying.


When her feet are on the ground, Mary manages the payroll for St Asaph-based accountants Salisbury and Company.


She also volunteers for SSAFA, where she acts as a caseworker for ex servicemen and women in the Denbighshire area.


She said: “My parachute partner was called Cookie and he was terrific. When we opened the chute he asked if I wanted to take the controls, but I let him do that.


“As we got to the ground we slowed down and then just landed sitting down. It was amazing.”


Mary’s aim now is to learn solo parachute jumping through “accelerated freefall” training before she turns 65.


“They won’t train you after that,” she said: “So if I’m to get a licence to do my own jumps I need to do it now. It’s just something I really want to do.”


SSAFA celebrated its 125th anniversary this year, and the skydiving event involved 125 skydivers all raising money for the cause.


Mary got involved with the charity following the death of her husband Bob, a musician in the RAF.


It is still not too late to donate - call into reception at Salisbury and Co in Irish Square, St Asaph or visit www.justgiving.com/Mary-Wallace26.

 

Local vouchers

View all vouchers


Featured Businesses

  • Cash Converters Ltd
    We want your gold! best prices paid all your gold jewellery accepted including, oddments, broken jewellery, etc
    More »
  • Richards TV
    Television, Video and Audio Repairs
    More »
  • A1 Ceilings
    Artex Specialist Old ceilings and walls to look as new whatever their condition FREE ESTIMATES We also make cracked & existing artex ceilings smooth again
    More »
  • Access Storage Group
    Storage units available. HGV Parking available indoor. Call today for a quote
    More »
View all adverts

Resources