102-year-old becomes Britain’s oldest skydiver: ‘Just keep going’
Manette Baillie served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in the Second World War
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A 102-year-old Second World War veteran has become Britain’s oldest parachutist, after leaping out of a plane over East Anglia.
Manette Baillie, from Benhall in Suffolk, completed her first parachute jump on Sunday from Beccles Airfield in celebration of her 102nd birthday on Wednesday.
Ms Baillie, who, ahead of the jump, said “you must always look for something new” afterwards told BBC Radio 4 that the jump was “a bit scary”.
“I must admit I shut my eyes very firmly,” she said.
“I just want other people who are getting towards 80 and 90 not to give up anything. Just keep going.”
Callum Kennedy from UK Parachuting, who was Ms Baillie’s tandem partner for the skydive, said: “Manette was as cool as a cucumber, throughout the jump.
“In fact, she was so cool, I began to get nervous.”
Mark King, operations manager at UK Parachuting, presented Ms Baillie with flowers and a certificate of achievement, while a party at Benhall and Sternfield Ex-Servicemen’s Village Social Club was arranged to celebrate.
The centenarian, who had been married to a paratrooper, served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in the Second World War.
She was raising money for Benhall’s village hall, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
She has so far raised more than £10,000 of her £30,000 target.
Ms Baillie is no stranger to high-octane activities, having celebrated her 100th birthday behind the wheel of a Ferrari at Silverstone.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.