Skydiving at 102: Manette Baillie becomes oldest person in Britain to parachute from a plane
A 102-year-old woman has just become the oldest woman in Britain to skydive, raising money for several charities close to her heart.
Manette Baillie celebrated her 102nd birthday in style on Sunday: jumping out of a plane to parachute over Beccles Airfield in Suffolk, on England’s east coast.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 after the record-breaking jump, Baillie admitted she felt a bit “breathless”, but had an important message for older folk like her.
“It was a bit scary,” Baillie said. “I must admit I shut my eyes very firmly.
“I just want other people who are getting towards 80 and 90 not to give up anything. Just keep going.”
Baillie served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service during the Second World War, but had never considered skydiving before – even as she was married to a paratrooper.
But she’s no stranger to thrill-seeking: for her 100th birthday, Baillie drove in a Ferrari at the F1 track Silverstone at 130mph (209km/hr).
“I really don’t do fear – it’s no good,” she said.
'Don't give up until you are absolutely forced' is the message from World War Two veteran Manette Baillie.She is marking her 102nd birthday with a charity skydive.Watch the moment below https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/JZkNf13Q26— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 25, 2024
There’s a reason she does it all though: for years, Baillie has been raising money for several charities.
The money raised from this jump is going to three charities, the first being her town’s local club, the Benhall and Sternfield Ex-Servicemen’s Club. The club was founded at the end of the First World War for ex-service people.
“It’s the centre of our village and the only one we have for the community to get together,” Baillie said.
Baillie also raised funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Her great niece suffers from the disease, and a cure is yet to be found. Baillie said the organisation desperately needs funds for research to find one.
The third charity is the East Anglia Air Ambulance service – and this one has a particularly special meaning for Baillie.
After the local air ambulance service saved her son’s life in 1969, following a diving accident, Baillie has given back by raising money for the organisation.
In fact, every Saturday, Baillie holds a community coffee morning at her cottage, where people can donate to the East Anglia Air Ambulance service.
As for what’s next, Baillie said she would be tackling a far less daunting challenge.
“I shall be taking up knitting,” she said.
Baillie is now the oldest person to skydive in Britain. The oldest skydiver in the world was the late 104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner from Chicago Illinois, who jumped last October.
The post Skydiving at 102: Manette Baillie becomes oldest person in Britain to parachute from a plane appeared first on Women's Agenda.
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