A PENSIONER parish councillor graced the skies for the very first time when she took part in a death-defying plane wing walk travelling at a daunting top speed of 135mph for charity.
Welland resident Mary Purser, 76, jetted off while standing on a plane wing at Staverton airfield near Gloucester on September 20 in aid of ChildLine.
Dedicated Mary, who serves as a parish councillor for Welland and Little Malvern, has raised more than £1,000 the charity which provides a free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people up to the age of 19 in the UK.
It was a case of third time lucky for Mary who saw her wing walk postponed twice, first after breaking a bone in her wrist just days before the event and poor weather cancelled her second attempt.
She said: “The most difficult part about the wing walk was actually getting onto the seat as I had to climb a ladder to get there.
“I was a little bit nervous to start with but once I was up in the air it was very good and very enjoyable experience.
“The weather was brilliant and I had a thumbs down procedure if I wanted to come down but I had a great time.
“I received so much support from friends, family and the Three Counties Friends Childline who came down to watch me.
“Even though I have now been on a plane for the first time, I would not want to do it again as I have ticked it off my list of things to do.”
Mary, who is also a churchwarden at St James’ Church on Drake Street, had to be given the all clear by her doctors to be allowed to do her wing walk as the experience is mainly aimed at those aged between 18 and 65 due to its extreme physical demands.
