Beccles skydive for East Anglia's Children's Hospices

Former military man, Dave Thomas, took the plunge of 13,000 feet to support East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).

Mr Thomas has a personal connection with EACH as his late wife, Linda Thomas, who died of cancer in August 2022, volunteered at the charity's Poringland shop.

The skydive, which took place on April 14 at Beccles Airfield, was not a first for the octogenarian.

The skydive took place in Beccles (Image: Submitted)

Mr Thomas said: “It wasn’t my first skydive, having done one 60 years ago in Singapore.

“That was during my time in the military and then I did another one near Nottingham in September 1984.

“So it wasn’t a new experience but I enjoyed it just as much and found it very exhilarating.

“After climbing to 13,000 feet, we were in freefall for about 50 seconds before the parachute opened at 5,000 feet.

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“The views were amazing and we landed perfectly. I loved it and didn’t feel nervous in the slightest.

“People kept asking me how I was feeling but I was honestly fine.”

His successful landing has so far raised nearly £850 but Mr Thomas hopes to bring his total beyond £1000.

Mr Thomas has a close bond with EACH because of his son.

He said “We had a son who sadly died when he was four, in 1979.

To celebrate Dave's birthday he is going on holiday to Wells Next The Sea (Image: Submitted)

“He had leukaemia and, at that time, there wasn’t anything like EACH.

“It’s amazing how things have changed and improved for the better, in terms of the care and support now available for children and families.

“Our experiences obviously stayed with us and that’s why we felt a connection with EACH, especially as we live so close to The Nook.”

His family are planning a short break in Wells-next-the-Sea to mark Dave’s big birthday, which is April 23.