Wednesday 6th September was a nervous day for WSSI Mandy Pratt, Cadet Cpl Vicky Guppy and a not so nervy PI Martyn Bryant, as they were about to jump out of a plane between 10,000 and 12,000 ft up in the air, in a tandem parachute jump with the famous red devils.

Martyn and Vicky, both from Cannington Platoon were raising money for the Somerset and Dorset air ambulance and Mandy from Doniford Platoon was raising money for the national kidney research fund.

We met up at 0900hrs, and nerves were running high as we were greeted at the gates of the Duke of Gloucester barracks in Cirencester by one of the Red Devils team.

Vicky was really excited, she had been buzzing for weeks as the lead up got closer and closer. Mandy on the other hand had a terrible fear of heights, and at one point was begging to leave as she realised she was jumping with one of the smallest guys there, no offence Andy. Martyn was playing all cool as he had completed many solo jumps in the past, but had never done a tandem before.

Vicky and Mandy were the third flight up and it seemed to take an age before we saw them descending through the sky as Tim the cameraman was first, then Vicky and finally Mandy. We didn't hear a single scream from either and both on landing were eager to get back in the plane and do it again. Martyn was on the fourth flight up and was second out, as he had done it before he had a go at flying the parachute, to which they nearly went upside down.
Thanks to the jump, Mandy no longer has a fear of heights and we are all returning again next year but with a couple extras doing the jump. We would like to thank the team for a great day and look forward to seeing them soon, when they are coming to visit us at Cannington.