102-year-old WW2 veteran from Suffolk completes record breaking skydive
Manette Baillie has become the oldest Briton to do a tandem skydive
Last updated 27th Aug 2024
A woman from Suffolk has marked her 102nd birthday, by skydiving from 7,000ft in Beccles to raise money for charity.
Manette Baillie has now become the oldest Brit to take part in a tandem skydive, breaking the record by over a year.
The record was previously held by Verdun Hughes, who was 101 years of age when he jumped from a plane back in 2017.
"Don't give up on anything until you are absolutely forced to"
Manette, who served in the Woman’s Royal Naval Service in Egypt during the Second World War, took the leap this morning to raise money for East Anglia Air Ambulance.
Speaking to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, she said, “You must always look for something new. I was once married to a paratrooper but have never done it a sky-dive myself.”
Manette also received a letter of congratulations from Prince William, ahead of taking the jump.