Portland prison instructor skydives with Bear Grylls

Mark Robinson's been raising money for Support Our Paras

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 2nd Jun 2023
Last updated 2nd Jun 2023

A prison instructor from HMP The Verne on Portland has taking part in a charity skydive, alongside TV adventurer Bear Grylls.

47 year old Mark Robinson was among 18 people to join in a charity jump for Support Our Paras - the official cause for the Parachute Regiment.

The effort collectively raised around ÂŁ4,000.

Mark says he quite literally jumped at the chance to take part:

“I’ve been working at HMP The Verne for around 20 years but I met Mark Pulman while on detachment at HMP Bristol and I know he’s always organising various challenges. So when he reached out and mentioned a charity sky dive with the Red Devils Parachute Regiment I was delighted – I put my name down straight away.

"It’s something I’ve always wanted to try, but to do it in this way and with the best of the best, it’s a day I will always remember – especially when Bear Grylls turned up out of the blue, that was brilliant. Mostly I was excited, until I felt my legs dangling outside the side of the plane!

Bear broke his back during a parachute jump in 1996, but is still a regular jumper and joined the prison staff during their attempt.

Some of the team members who took part in the skydive, at the home of the Red Devils in Wiltshire

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.