EventsFlying HighFlying High 2004

Flying High 2004 - Sunday 25th July 2004

The weather forecast was for light showers; heavy rain is what we got! But between the downpours we managed to get on with the show! (Click photos to enlarge)

The first two to complete their event were skydivers Wendy Cork, a hairdresser from Loddon Norfolk, who wishes to thank her clients for helping to raise the £550 in 9 days, and Stephanie Wakelin from Wymondham, Melton Mowbray. Stephanie also did the wingwalk.

Four teddy bears were entered for the skydive but only two managed to get up into the clouds. Thanks Frances from Bury St Edmunds.

We then saw the arrival of Mick Dentith, flying Butterly, the Stearman biplane, and Marie Duguid from the Utterly Butterly display team. (Marie was very disappointed she did not show her wingwalking skills on the day)

First to do the open cockpit flight with aerobatics was Jane Cole of Stowmarket. Jane has now completed all three events over the past three years, each time raising far more then she had to.

First up onto the wing was Patti Stanley from Kings Lynn. Patti did a street collection amongst her activities to raise the awareness and funds.

Second up was Rachel Miller who did not know she was to do a wingwalk until the morning of the event! Steve, her partner, had planned this as a surprise birthday present. They raised the money between them by taking part in a cycle event on a tandem, and a company donation.

Scott Wood from The Dolphin Inn, Wortham (Scott raised over £600) and David Walker from Christchurch Dorset were the next skydivers to jump.

Jenny Gillett from Gorleston was our third wingwalker. Jenny is a sales executive with Norwich City Football Club.

Terry Glover from Northallerton was the next wingwalker. Terry has also abseiled from the Blackpool Tower for The Anthony Nolan Trust.

The next and, as it happened, the last skydivers to jump, were Kent Ward from Evesham and birthday girl Aimee Hufford from Stukeley Meadows Cambs. Aimee was 20yrs old on the day.

Then came the rain again!

Braving the elements, Donald Preece took to the wing and completed his wingwalk. The rain turned Donald's face red! He said later, that it was like hailstones hitting him!

Allison Potter then climbed onto the wing. Allison is from Crantock in Cornwall. She enjoyed every moment of the wingwalk.

David Walker then did his open cockpit flight with aerobatics. David had driven up from Dorset for the day.

Sarah Ward brought some wolf whistles as climbed onto the wing! Sarah comes from Norwich and works at Norwich Union. Sarah was also the highest fundraiser of the day, raising £1519 for the wingwalk. Well Done Sarah!

Julie Travers from Peterborough then displayed her skills at standing on top of a plane doing up to 150 mph.

Then came a very emotional wingwalk. That of Phyllis Whitfield from Liverpool. Phyllis scattered the ashes of her late father whilst wingwalking.

Asa Soderberg did the first of her three events - the open cockpit flight with aerobatics. Unfortunately that was the only event Asa did on the day. She completed her tandem skydive on the 12th September.

Next we had someone who has brought new ideas for fundraising to the Suffolk Support Group. Julia made £1300 for the wingwalk and the money is still coming in. A dog show and a clairvoyant evening were amongst her fundraising activities. Julia Bolton is from Bury St Edmunds.

Scott Sheringham from Ipswich was over 16st when he applied to do the wingwalk. I thought he would decline, as he had to lose over 3st - but he did it! He also raised £1333 - Well done Scott!

Deborah Gibson from Ipswich was described in the programme as the quiet one. I have been told differently by her friends!

A very nervous Chris Hawes from Stowupland took to the sky for the open cockpit flight with aerobatics. Chris is always willing to help out and was with his wife Cheryl today helping. Chris raised £327 for the ride. He's not too keen to do the loop again unless he has to! Thanks Chris.

Guy James also took to the air with the open cockpit flight with aerobatics. Guy is from Stowmarket.

The Spitfire Display. What can I say? Words cannot describe how brilliant this was. Thank you Rod Dene.

With the weather not being kind, the display by the Utterly Butterly Wing Walking Team was cancelled due to the second Stearman plane being unable to get to Old Buckenham.

Mike had trouble with the battery on his Stearman and had to hand-crank the propeller to start the engine! This all added to the limited time window as the displays had to finish at 6pm.

The last wingwalk of the day was a display by Stephanie Wakelin from Melton Mowbray, who also completed the skydive earlier in the day.

Ray Cooper from Stowmarket did the open cockpit flight with aerobatics. Ray raised over £300. Well done Ray!

The last activity of the day was an open cockpit flight with aerobatics for Heather Pugh. Heather will also be doing the wingwalk on Sept 14th at the home of The Utterly Butterly team along with Asa Soderberg, who had planned to do all the three events.

This left a lot of disappointed people, Jayne Dyble had planned to do all three events, but was not able to do any. These will be arranged for a future date.

Skydivers Pat and Agnes Ramm missed out on the day, but have since completed their skydives. Pat is 71yrs old and his wife is 65yrs old. Well done to Aggie as this was her first skydive.

Lisa Wild from Birch also completed her skydive on the same day as Pat and Aggie. Well done Lisa.

Another who missed out on the day was Jenny Lewis. She travelled from Wales to do the skydive on Thursday 7th August.

I hope all who attended on the day had a good day and I would like to thank all who helped us, as this was the last event Anne and I (Melvyn Douglas) will be organizing. Next year, we will be helping but not organizing.

I would like to thank Norman Feltwell for the Photos. Steve and Tarkey for the CDs.

The total made from 'Flying High 2004' was a staggering £12,500

Thank You All!

Melvyn and Anne Douglas

Suffolk Support Group