Wellington resident Brian, 86, jumps 15,000 feet for charity

After three planned dates that were cancelled due to bad weather, Brian finally took the jump, followed by what he describes as a “quite comfortable” landing.

“Despite an OK start to the day,” he recalls, “by the time we had gone through the training session and safety video, the weather had become cloudy, gradually getting worse. When we got up there, all we saw was clouds everywhere, as far as we could see.

 “The whole thing took around 25 minutes. It started with a freefall strapped to an instructor, about 30-40 seconds, travelling at around 100 miles per hour. It just felt very, very windy, but I was able to muster plenty of smiles for my photographer!

“Then it became still as we slowly descended, now with an open parachute. We went down through the cloud, when you can’t see anything, and then we got a breathtaking view.

“Despite the weather, a parachute jump is unique in every way – a superb sight of our land, all stretched out before you; the excitement, the wonder, the colours, and a sure feeling of being in safe hands. Much safer than driving on the M5!

“Oh yes, and a birds’ eye view of other birds – quite a strange experience!”

This was by no means Brian’s first skydive. Clearly a daredevil at heart, it was his fourth jump. Leaping out of an aeroplane from 15,000 feet – nearly three miles – is a far cry from his normally peaceful life at his home at Ivy House, an independent living scheme in Wellington run by the not-for-profit Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS).

However, there is another, more heartfelt reason that Brian undertakes his daring feats.

He explains, “While I skydive for the excitement and pleasure it provides me, my key reason is that it is a good story to help me fundraise for Alzheimer's Society, and ultimately those living with dementia and their carer partners.

Having previously helped to care for his friend, Alan, and had other friends who have lost their lives to dementia, Brian knows all too well the tremendous toll it can take, not just on people who live with dementia, but also their friends and family.

He calls the day-to-day experience of carers “the rough end” when it comes to dealing with the effects, and it was Alan’s diagnosis that inspired him to become a Dementia Friend in 2014, a programme run by Alzheimer’s Society.

“Ever since,” he continues, “I’ve been passionate about trying to do something, whatever it might be, to help people with dementia. The great thing about being a Dementia Friend is that you can be a ‘friend’ to someone with dementia, however you interpret that to be. There are so many opportunities to choose from, and you can give however much time you want.”

Brian enjoys his life at Ivy house and appreciates the ethos and the family-style atmosphere at his home, which is based on the Abbeyfield model of communal living. With values of care, compassion and community at its core, Ivy House aims to help older people to lead an independent lifestyle in a safe and secure environment. Brian takes full advantage of this and can often be found enjoying his hobby of Nordic walking or taking part in his local parkrun on Saturday mornings.

He also chooses to give his time as an Alzheimer’s Society Companion Caller, and has sat on the Volunteer Advisory Panel for the organisation. They have recognised his various contributions by presenting him with two prestigious People’s Awards in 2021 – in the Couldn’t Do Without You category, which is chosen by a group of staff, volunteers and trustees; and in the Best of the Best category, which is given by the Chief Executive.

Ever modest, Brian is quick to downplay these achievements. “I was very proud and honoured to receive the awards, but I just see them as awards for volunteering,” he says, “and there are a lot of very good volunteers. I don’t pretend to be particularly special in that regard.

“I suppose the aspect of helping those less fortunate is in my DNA. That’s what I’ve tried to do with the Marlow Striders,” (an inclusive running club Brian co-founded in 1990 when living in Buckinghamshire), “and with Alzheimer’s Society.”

One in three of us will develop dementia in our lifetimes, and it is the UK’s biggest killer. Brian is keen to stress, “Every pound raised means that Alzheimer’s Society can continue being a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone living with dementia.”

Please support Brian’s fundraising efforts if you can by visiting his donation page: www.justgiving.com/page/brian-standring-11.

ENDS