Villagers team up with Red Devils for charity skydive

SIXTEEN people took part in a 13,000ft skydive in aid of a Goring charity.

They included a number of village traders and their customers with ages spanning 40 years.

They were raising money for the Hub in The Arcade, a community charity run by the Q1 Foundation which provides friendship, guidance and information.

The tandem jump took place at Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire on a sunny day and each volunteer was attached to a member of the Red Devils, the army parachute display team.

Gary Smith, owner of Goring Village Butchers, jumped alongside his children, Hollie, 23, and Sam, 20.

Mr Smith, 59, who has taken part in two previous jumps, said he was relieved when his parachute opened and he could enjoy the “spectacular” views.

Hollie, who was leaping for the first time, said: “I wasn’t scared until we were on the plane. I didn’t realise how high we were until we were up in the air and my feet were hanging off the edge. The first bit was so daunting as I was going so fast. Because you’re falling at about 120mph you almost forget to breathe.

“A lot of people came to me afterwards saying they wanted to do it and, thinking about it, I might do it again too. It was a really good day and my grandparents came to watch.”

Hollie and Sam raised more than £750 with bake sales outside the Dolphin pub in Wallingford.

Sebastian Avery, 25, a part-time firefighter at Goring fire station, described his first jump as “quite the experience” and said he would do it again.

He said: “The week coming up to it, I was surprised how little I was worrying, then the next minute I was on the plane.

“All I could think about was trying to make sure my breakfast stayed in my stomach as I whooshed and spun through the air at about 120mph. There was a beautiful blue sky, so in that sense it was amazing.”

Betsy Brown, 18, manager of the Village Café, jumped alongside three colleagues, Ava Lunt, Sophia Kavongo and Sarah Conde, and customer Rachel Dunn.

She said: “It was an amazing experience and I am so glad we raised lots of money.”

Jackie Hamstead, 59, from Thame, said: “I didn’t know what to expect but it was great. I was so nervous but they looked after us so well.

“The feeling was unreal as it all happened so fast. When the parachutist jolted me up, he showed me sights such as Stonehenge and the Isle of Wight.”

She and Sean Cunningham, a window cleaner from Watlington, raised more than £1,000 for the Hub and Dementia Prevention UK.

Ms Hamstead thanked Watlington Bowls Club for a £85 donation, adding: “Everyone is really watching their pounds but to raise £1,000 is great as it giving a little back to members of the community who need it most.”

The other jumpers were Ed Crane, of ITM Audio Visual, Liliia Lutsak, of Goring Greengrocers, Blair Sharman, Miller Sherwood and Max Cameron.

They raised a total of £6,500.

Organiser Stuart Rowsell, 87, who took part in two previous jumps but opted out this time, said the money raised was invaluable.

He said: “It costs about £5,000 a month to run the Hub, including rent, fuel and salaries. It gets little to no help so any fundraising and sponsorship is always welcomed and appreciated.

“The skydive is a great team event and everybody supported each other to overcome thier fears.”

Three jumps last year by supporters of the charity raised almost £15,000.

Another jump will take place on June 16. If you would like to take part, call Mr Rowsell on 0118 979 4312 or email stuartrowsell
@gmail.com