Dare devil Horley mayor ready for second world record sky dive attempt

A Horley councillor is '˜looking forward' to breaking his second sky-diving world record by being the oldest person to take to the skies at night.
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David Powell, who is also the mayor for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, is now days away from becoming the oldest person to jump from 30,000ft at night while still holding the record for jumping from the same distance during the day.

It is thought he may also be the first mayor to carry out the feat.

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The 80 year old said: “I’m going off on Friday (August 12) to Chicago to my son’s and then we will drive down to Memphis. I will do my jump on the 21st.

“It will be a bit different at night and it will be a full moon. It will be quite interesting falling down through moon beams.

“It’s probably the first time someone’s gone back and done it for a second time. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The daredevil county, borough and Horley town councillor is jumping in aid of the Royal British Legion with one of branch colleagues, Paul Pitts.

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Cllr Powell said: “I am at about £6,000 at the moment. I had a lovely conversation with Dame Judy Dench and she’s going to sponsor me again.

“Last time she presented me with an engraved pewter tankard to commemorate the occasion.

“I lost my father in the Second World War and I was a soldier for 25 years. When I lost my father I was nine years of age and I saw the massive effect it had on myself and my two sisters and my mother.

“During the war it was very difficult for my mother coping with three children on her own. This is where the British Legion comes in to help people after they have left the services.

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“They do an amazing job. Every week they donate £1million to deserving veterans and servicemen and women and we have all got to work hard to support them. This is my contribution.”

Sky diving is not the only challenge he has done for charity and this month’s one will by no means be the last.

Three days after he gets back to the UK, he will be doing an abseil down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth to raise funds for the YMCA in Redhill.

To sponsor him in his sky dive go to www.justgiving.com/david-percy-powell

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